I think only wackadoodle nutjobs commit murder. Sane people would not choose to murder. What about those who "kill"?

Premeditated murder (such as with the recent shootings) is murder.  Accidentally killing someone (as in a traffic accident), or killing someone in (true) self-defence isn't murder.

Insanity is NO excuse for murder!  It's a cop out.

These idiots who commit these mass shootings have no regard for human life - including their own.  How many of these mass shooters expected to come out alive?   

More and more we are becoming desensitized to the value of human life.  We glorify war in video games and on the media (TV, movies, etc.).  We raise our kids on these things (or should I saw we let these things raise our kids) and then wonder why they turn violent.  No, not all are like this, but enough are to cause damage.  Like it or not, what we put into our minds is what's going to come back out in our actions.  If one fills their mind with hate or violence, that's what going to come out.  Parents swear in front of their kids and yet are horrified when they start cursing like sailors.  Garbage in garbage out!  One can argue against this all they want.  Pointing to exceptions doesn't invalidate facts.

When these shootings happen we're quick to put the blame elsewhere - guns, legislators, etc.  Yet we never put the blame on ourselves.  A gun is simply a lifeless tool... it can only do what its operator has it do. Blaming the guns is absurd.  We want our legislators to pass gun laws, but that won't do much good either.  If someone wants a gun they darn well are going to find a way to get it.  Besides, there's a lot of money in guns (just ask the NRA).  Plus no legislator is going to pass any bill if it jeopardizes their job, reputation, or portfolio.

What's more, we glorify the murders.  We give them eternal recognition for their horrific deeds.  they may be dead or in jail, but their deeds live on in glorious color!  Day after day after day the media harps on these tragedies.  Why, teh local news has had 1/2 hour long specials on the Gilroy shootings each day since.  It's fine to remember the victims, but the media glorifies the shooters - mentioning them over and over and over.  What a perfect way to be immortalized (I'm sure you know the name Charles Manson... wonder why?).  Go out and kill a bunch of people and the world will never stop talking about you - even if you die.  Copycat killers unite!