Frankly I don't think this incident had one scintilla to do with him feeling like a tough guy. An angry guy? Maybe. A frustrated guy? Perhaps? A crazy guy? Very likely so. A tough guy? I don't see it that way.
I don't mean (in this and similar situations) tough in a sense of strong, muscular, physical and mental fit, rough and tumble/gritty tough.
I mean it as bullying/push around the weak(er)/etc. ONLY because he'd got a gun vs. the innocent unarmed mass with zero warning.
See my second and third sentences about fighting the other crazies (Talibans) and well trained/armed individuals (Police) if they think they are bad asses. I haven't hear anything otherwise. Losers like this guy only dare to attack unsuspected and unarmed folks (VT, Columbine, Sweeden, ect.)
amdhunter, this is not P&N, take it there if you choose.