America first...

The problem is not JUST guns, but it is absolutely made possible by the insanely easy access to guns.

There is a deep sickness here- and perhaps it is impossible to see it clearly when one is embedded in it- perhaps an outsider like yourself might apprehend it more clearly.

No matter the motive, one thing these shootings all share (aside from guns) is a gunman willing to throw away his life and future- either for an imagined 'cause', or simply to kill himself (and it is effectively 100% of the time that it is a HIM- only men do this) in a sensational and damaging a way as possible in order to get his posthumous 15 minutes of fame.

So hopelessness, I think, is a critical factor- suicidal certainty that you have no chance of a future.

But hopelessness only explains the death wish, not the desire to leave as much death and destruction in your wake as possible.

My wife speculated the issue is that Americans have a 'fucked up idea of glory' - the idea of going out in a blaze of glory- leaving a lasting mark on this world, without regard to whether it is a positive or negative mark. Like a vandal, writing graffiti in blood.

All these mass murderers are men- I know Americans have fucked up ideas of masculinity- that is a large part of why ended up with Trump... Many Americans see cruelty, the callous disregard for norms, disregard for laws, disregard for ethics, and blatant misogyny as the marks of a 'masculine' man. But looking around the world we are hardly exceptional in that respect.... right? It seems to be the human condition. 'Toxic masculinity' has plagued all societies throughout history.

Whatever the origin of the underlying pathology, one thing is certain- this slaughter WOULD NOT HAPPEN were it not for the insane obsession with guns, and getting them into the hands of ANYONE that wants one- no matter how unstable they are.

And lets be clear- ANYONE that expresses a desire to have an assault rifle is someone that is probably too mentally unfit or emotionally immature to be allowed to have any weapons at all.