Its easy to blame the implement vs the perpetrator since its easier to fix, or so our politicians think. We have ignored the mental health issue for decades because we thought it cruel to confine those with mental health issues...so we closed the facilities, reduced or removed the laws regarding that condition and now they are "treated" with drugs...way more humane or so we think, but also allows them freedom to roam among us. Some people have been on behavioral drugs their whole life...for ADD, OCD when young, then anti-depressants and then the next "cure" when they get older...cradle to grave pharmaceuticals for all! And we have no idea of what effect that has on any individual.
The core values of society have also been eroded..the family, religion, discipline at home or at school, etiquette and manners , all of these are considered old fashioned and out of date...yet they contributed to a more caring and civil society...what has been removed under the guise of freedom of expression and individual rights has led to our current malaise of self absorbed, non caring and narcissistic individuals proliferating. Add in social media, internet forums ( irony) and gaming and you get more isolated, depressed, anxiety ridden citizens of all ages. The rise in mass shootings since the 90's has reasons...those are what we should look for vs looking to gun control...or maybe we can do a bit of both instead of squabbling and pointing fingers. Without looking for the core reasons, we will only address the symptoms...and more shootings are inevitable.