Didn’t Hinkeley use a pistol and a revolver at that?
If you want to rationally analyze the whole incident, it was probably merciful for all present that the mental case, making the "love statement" had access to a handgun, rather than hurl a "molotov cocktail" or the equivalent at the President. But, of course, there is nothing remotely rational about the argument for making hand guns unavailable to law abiding citizens. The "arguments" are directed at fawning irrational fear, and Mrs. Brady used Jim like Edgar Bergen used Charley McCarthy in the 1940s, as part of a prepared act. But Bergen's only motive was to entertain. Mrs. Brady's is really not that clear.