Not even a few hours after the shooting, anti-gun leftists trotted out their typical talking points about scary-looking guns and how they force people to use them to murder groups of people at once.

Speaking of the gun – so far, it is not clear what the suspected shooter, who was later found dead of a possible suicide, used to carry out the act. In fact, the authorities have indicated he did not use an “assault weapon.”

Nevertheless, the anti-gunners are at it on social media, waxing hysterical about how curtailing gun ownership among responsible Americans will somehow end mass shootings:

Monterey Park is just a few short miles from where I grew up. I’ve been watching the news, horrified, all day— though for a while the news wasn’t even reporting on it. Seriously, what will it take to convince this country we need gun control?? https://t.co/shABMZt1Pw

— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) January 22, 2023

Here’s another way to talk to your kids about mass shootings. Tell them that when they are voting age to vote for stricter gun control laws and support politicians that don’t take gun lobby money. Because our generation sure as hell sucks at doing something about it. pic.twitter.com/xO4Z8hpbMX

— Kristina Wong ❄️ (@mskristinawong) January 22, 2023

Gun control is only going to work if it’s the SAME in every state and aggressively enforced. ANYONE can bring these weapons of mass destruction across state lines hidden in their cars. American’s obsession with guns is a pathological disease. #gunsensenow https://t.co/aZG4BwfWZI

— Lydia Cornell (@LydiaCornell) January 22, 2023

Naturally, folks on the right are challenging those pushing for gun control, rightly pointing out that there are likely no gun laws – new or old – that would have prevented this shooting.

But so far, there has not been significant discussion on the root issues that lead to these tragedies. Some have brought up mental health, but the issue, as always, is eclipsed by the arguments over guns.

This is how these situations always play out.

The focus remains on the gun issue and whether responsible, law-abiding Americans, should be allowed to possess them. Meanwhile, the mental problems that lead to these shootings go largely ignored, which means this problem will likely not be addressed at any time in the near future.

This is unfortunate, but it is the reality. Therefore, it makes sense that people should start arming themselves in greater numbers. There have been plenty of situations in which firearms have been used to stop mass shootings in schools and other public places. In general, studies have shown that guns are more likely to be used to defend life and property than to be used to commit a crime.

The National Firearms Survey, which was conducted in 2021, revealed that there were 1.6 million defensive gun uses each year. Moreover, a third of participants reported having used their firearm for self-defense in 2021.

“The biggest difference between the results of this survey and many earlier ones is that this survey goes into greater depth regarding types of firearms owned, the details of defensive gun uses, and frequency of defensive carry of handguns,” said Professor William English, the Georgetown University official who developed the study. “This survey is also the largest survey of gun owners ever conducted, providing more statistical power than earlier surveys and much more information about the demographics of gun ownership and use. Its results are largely consistent with other recent survey work when it comes to general ownership estimates, which increases the confidence in its accuracy, but it goes into greater depth with regard to many details of interest.”

If this is the case, it does not make sense to wait for the government to take action on the mass shooting issue. The left views these atrocities as opportunities to curtail gun ownership. The right is only interested in pushing back on their efforts to attack the Second Amendment. This is certainly necessary – we don’t want anti-gunners finding new and inventive ways to infringe on our right to bear arms. But since the left isn’t serious about the matter, Republicans should be concerned with addressing the root causes.

But in the meantime, these situations only bolster the argument that law-abiding folks should be armed. They should be pushing back against further attempts to erode the Second Amendment so that even more can possess the means by which they can protect themselves and their families. As long as the debate centers on guns, there will only be more mass shootings, which is an unfortunate reality. It’s best to encourage loved ones to learn how to defend themselves instead of waiting for a real solution.