>This ignores the very real despair one can go through and have a lasting effect on going through the medical system, seeing loved ones, friends and colleagues struggle with it, and a myriad of other vectors that can and do cause feelings of despair

Surely if he was pushed to violence for personal reasons, you'd expect him to shoot up the hospital that botched his back surgery? Why shoot the CEO of a company where he had no personal connection to? Does "despair" just mean any sort of grievance? Can you say that someone shooting up a planned parenthood clinic was because "despair" at "babies being killed" or whatever?

I feel this situation is similar to that of Jacobellis v. Ohio in which Justice Potter Stewart could not define what hardcore pornography was, but he knew it when he saw it.

Theres 2nd order effects at play in this case that make it unique and unlike other ones. Even including other cases where there are acts of violence for what on the surface would seem like similar reasons.

Therefore no I don't think you can extrapolate this into broader politically motivated violence and/or forms of despair. This case is sufficiently unique in its context and should be viewed as such.

Folks are free to disagree, that is how I feel about it though.

And as for the accused, I will not try and speak for the accused, as its not my place to.