Beware the gun nerds.

[haele]

21. We do, but SMEs can also confuse the issue.

The issue is how a high-velocity/high capacity firearm - handgun or rifle - can be used to intimidate or harm/kill significantly large groups of unwitting people than, say, a shotgun or a machete by someone who has easy access to it and decides - for whatever reason that person chooses.
If an SME make it about "well, this gun isn't what you say it is"... that just changes the subject from the irresponsible use of an easily accessible weapon to an exercise in emotional one-ups-man-ship, while one side is trying to point out "hey, there's a problem with easy and minimally regulated access to these weapons that can't be used for anything but killing large amounts of targets just because someone feels like it" and the other side is returning with "That's not My problem, because I'm responsible and knowledgeable, so stop attacking my hobby because you don't know what you're talking about..."

Mental illness - plenty of people are mentally ill.

But the reality is - the one we as a society don't like to consider - is that not all mass shooters would even fall under the "mentally ill" DX.
Most of them are like the guy Michael Douglas played in "Falling Down". They're just average people who're marginally average on the emotional scale and had one too many bad days, have easy access to a legally purchased high velocity/high capacity firearm, and decide to take out some of their rage and fear stress on something. Most of them could be that reasonable neighbor who's just under a bit of strain, or the co-worker you go out for drinks with after a long shift, or the assistant coach of your kid's Little League team. Maybe they had a bit of a "wild streak" or a bit of a temper and screwed up a bit, but they paid their dues.
They seem to be like you and me - until they aren't.

So, this time, their "shooting range" was the local church, shopping mall, or high school. Easy animate targets that satisfy the lizard brain. They're just a bit out of it that day and want to Burn It All Down and Prove That They're In-Charge, God Damnit!
(They usually only become suicidal once they snap out of their rage and realize they've destroyed their own lives.)

So, it doesn't matter if it's a clip or a magazine. It doesn't matter what caliber the bullets are. All that really matters is that firearms that can spray a lot of bullets out and cause a lot of damage are really easy to get in this country, especially ones marketed to people who need emotional support.

I've had firearms training in the military. It's really easy to shoot once you get the hang of it. And I've realized that when I'm shooting, there's this feeling of ultimate power I get - my Lizard Brain is getting stoked every time I pull the trigger and hear that bat-bat-bat-bat of rounds going off and the target getting shredded.

Haele