I agree you for the most part.
I have to say, however, that I just find the possibility that the DC attacks are moslem terrorism to be hard to believe. Not that it couldn't be the case, but it would be so stupid on their part. It strains credulity to imagine that the people behind Al Queda or the Waqf or whatever it is could be this assinine.
If it turns out that the DC shootings have been perpetrated by foreign terrorists under instructions from abroad, there will IMHO be huge consequences. For immigration policy, for second-amendment considerations (as you alluded to), for political correctness, for the entire edifice of modern-day liberalism and the liberal "hive." The power of the UN, of the opinions of other countries (like the EU, for example) will be even more diminished in force than they are now.
If our enemies are really this stupid, my fear of them will actually decrease. Not that they can't do horrible, lamentable damage to us, killing many innocent individuals and causeing much pain and heartache to individual Americans and their families.
But a "frank" world war would be the cause of many times more individual tragedy, and that is (again IMHO) what we are in now, or soon will be. The North Korea revelations bring us that much closer to the day when nuclear fire will again smite human civilization, and the next time the targets may not be some distant enemy of ours. I don't think it has sunk in to many in our country how serious this situation is, how much of a challenge to our way of life we face.
(steely)
That's why the Libs are praying (to whatever dieties they worship) that it IS a white right-wing gun nut. If it turns out to be AQ, we're going back to '76 baby (1776, that is). I wouldn't be surprised to see the Supremes decide that any gun regs are unconstitional.
BTW, Caleb Carr's father was one of the original Beats (before the label was even coined) when they were all undergrads at Columbia right after WWII. The early Beats where high IQ bohemians that liked to hang around street toughs and get involved in petty crime.
When Carr's dad was indirectly associated with a homicide, Kerouc, Ginsberg, et al ended up dropping out. And thus began their original wanderings with Neal Cassidy at the wheel as portrayed in 'On the Road'.
We are extraordinarily fortunate that this has not occurred. It's the one line, so far, that terrorist organizations have not crossed. They seem to prefer the guerrila-style, hit-and-run type of warfare.
Well, in the scenario you describe that would be great but for the stealth nature of the snipers. What you may end up having is well-meaning citizens shooting at other well-meaning citizens who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time while the real sniper remains effectively invisible.