The technology of the AK series is far worse. The bullets penetrate the bone and flesh, exiting the other side, taking chunks with it, causing irreparable damage to those who live. They are not at like "normal" normal gunshot wounds. They were designed as weapons of war and they look like it. The battlefield damage was deliberately calculated for the battlefield. But America is not a battlefield. The politicians want it to be, so the deep "polarization" of the far white right can be felt when the weapon is seen and bought and owned, on an unconscious level. Semi-automatic or fully automatic, bump stock or not, the masculine and racist emotional connection of militaristic intent is obvious. And obviously seen. What makes these recent two recent tragedies connected? None of the dead in the mass shootings were middle aged white men. They almost never are.

I agree with all your comments and analysis. But you won't pry the semi-automatic white power weapon from the hands of Ted Cruz and the like. They are too busy remembering the Alamo, besieged by the flood of brown immigrants and black fantasies of "superpredators" to give it up or make any changes to any law of regulation. Thanks for the all the background and reasoned approach; it's too bad these senators in particular don't listen to reason.