Exactly. Those few critical points- being intact as well as poorly trained and continually abused- would definitely trigger any dog.

Are you sure they're ABs? I saw the news and these guys definitely looked AmStaff to me. I don't think they were pitbulls, though. They were way too big and had a Staffie looking head to me. It's so sad because there have been so many dog bites and dog maulings in San Francisco alone. It makes you wonder if there's something over there or a continual owner habit that triggers these guys...