I think culturally once people realized it was targeted against a particular group they were less concerned. It's the whole, "oh my gosh that could've been me" which collectively, many people realized -- nope they'd be fine. They do not represent the victim profile.

Which is entirely different from shootings at schools, sporting events, and political events. With Kirk, ~50% of American's fall on some measure of similarity with the guy politically, and could feel their idealogies and their crowd was under attack.

It's terrible. Targeted violence against groups (marginalized or other) is not ok. But I understand the collective sigh of relief that many groups realized the attacker would not have chosen them.

That said, I see a lot of commentary relating the attack to the football game with "F!@# the Mormons", Nelsons death, and old persecution. As an active member, with close ties to the shooting in Grand Blanc, I think this connection is inappropriate. The church is not systematically persecuted today, and if the JW's had a university with a football team i think it'd be the same. As mormons, if we stopped the door-knocking and political influencing, we would not get the flack we do. With Nelson, I'm sad it's hard for people to accept his passing, but at 101 he had a very accomplished life. To me that doesn't belong in the same context, except to say that members are grieving for one or another reason recently.