Try not to focus on the weapon of choice. We have had a seismic culture change across America in how we Americans solve our disagreements and conflicts and accidental/incidental public contacts, up close, and from a distance.
I never, ever was exposed to road rage until I saw it in the 90s. I was amazed that folks would respond to rude drivers in that manner. RR then advanced to gun fire as a response, instead of a middle finger. These were grown adults in their 50s in some cases, professional lawyers, accountants, etc. Really incredible stupdity levels.
We now are into our second generation of young people of all shades across the country, who clearly seem to believe, that the ONLY way to resolve conflict, is to instantly pull a weapon, usually a gun, and shoot the other person. Incredible. Stunning. And equally stupid.
The pages of this particular online paper have been filled with such stories, incuding the adults who went armed to a local park to "defend" their teenage children. Incredible. Stunning, And really really stupid.

Pontificating further, it is my sumise that such a cultural shift is connected to the continuing purge of religion from our culture. Attendance in church is down across religions, I believe. (I could be wrong). Minority voices of one or two people, that's all, has been enough for elected and appointed judges to order the removal of Ten Commandment displays, Christmas holiday displays, banning prayers at high school activities such as sporting events and graduation functions, etc. Mind you, these bans did not swell from a massive write-in campaign, or massive media campaing. One or two people went to a judge and whined. Instantly, activities that were commonplace and universally accepted and tolerated for over 200 years, were eliminated. 

How the minority overruled the majority on these and other matters is to me one of the great unanswered questions of our time. I don't get it. Exactly what harm was there in: displaying a nativity scene; praying before a game; praying before a graduation ceremony; displaying the basic tenents of one particular religion, and all the rest that has occurred? I'm confused by it all, too. Apparently, if one parent, one adult is offended, the rest of us without being heard from, must instantly kowtow and be politically correct and just nod our heads and say yep yep yep. 

Just passing through, confused.