Those who remember 9/11 might recall the spirit of unity and camaraderie that overtook Americans after the tragedy. Democrats and Republicans joined hands and fought at every front to defeat the terrorist enemy.
However, the Orlando attack has not got similar responses. It brought some quiet and touching moments of silence for those murdered and injured, but many politicians seem to aim for each other's jugular.
"Republican Speaker Paul Ryan gaveled down shouting Democrats for being out of order with proposed gun legislation. Senate Democrats followed up on Wednesday by hijacking the floor with a talk-a-thon to force a vote on gun control..."
At one point, Donald Trump accused President Obama as aligned with terrorists. The President gave a scathing and sarcastic response.
What exactly has happened? This "is a time when people rally around our country, and it's obviously not what's occurred, and it's very disappointing," said Republican Sen. Bob Corker, a possible running mate for Trump.
For the past two decades, there have been mass shootings. So many incidents were related to terrorism, while many were not. While in local communities, citizens and leaders have tried to work on "healing", Washington lawmakers seem to be "locked in an election-year standoff."
"When a community sees its existence in jeopardy, as each of these communities do, that brings these communities together," says Christopher Kojm, who served as deputy director of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. "As a nation, we felt that on 9/11, but we haven't felt that since."
The worrying issues in this attack have been the divisions among Muslims, gays and guns. The attack is "fraught with all kinds of division ... because it had to do with guns, and it had to do with Muslims, and those are just going to be divisive," says John Feehery, former spokesman for Republican Dennis Hastert, who was speaker of the House on Sept. 11, 2001.
Moreover, as the nation is well into a presidential election year, it can be recalled that 9/11 struck just at the dawn of a new presidency. While both presidential nominees as well as the President are bickering over Orlando and terrorism, even Senate Democrats, needing just five seats to get control, have cashed in on the opportunity.
Hence, Democrats on Wednesday highlighted the attention needed for gun-control measures, which they probably anticipated would strengthen the support for Democrats in swing states.
As Congress has not acted on gun laws since 2007, following the Virginia Tech shooting, the house Democrats are trying to force the issue now.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) of New York said of Republican senators on Tuesday, "Hopefully, they'll change their minds out there. But if not, they will face the consequences and that makes progress move forward."
The Orlando-like attacks have become more frequent, which has also made it grist for the political mills. The 9/11 attack, on the other hand, "was an epic event in American history, like Pearl Harbor or the day that John F. Kennedy was shot."
"It's sickening to say, but [mass shootings] are just part of the landscape, and this one was bigger, of course," says Mr. Kojm, who is now a visiting professor at the Elliott School of International Affairs.
He said that threatening events do tend to spur and unite the country, even if they appear to be splintered. Tragedies affecting local communities in areas such as San Bernardino, Calif; Charleston, SC; Fort Hood, Texas; or Newtown, Conn have been encouraged to come together.
Would it really take a bigger event than Orlando to unite the communities?
If examined closely, it is clear that Orlando has indeed brought people together in some ways. Some policy measures do seem to be unifying. Wednesday's bipartisan mental health bill, looked at as a solution to help prevent mass shootings, got consensus. On Tuesday, the annual defense spending bill was also voted. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky called it a "decisive step in the right direction" of defeating the Islamic State.
"A few Senate Republicans are even expressing interest in preventing suspect terrorists from buying guns, as proposed in legislation by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) of California. Democrats are determined to get a vote on the bill, as well as on increased funding for the FBI, which they want to offer as amendments to the Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill being debated this week."
Other measures include preventing suspect terrorists from buying guns. There are disputes about funding for the bill and also support for the FBI. Even Trump, apart from talking about banning Muslims and accusing the President of linking with terrorism, said that he wants to speak to the National Rifle Association about not permitting people on the "watch list" or "no fly" list to access guns.
But ultimately, the shooting has indeed unified cities that faced shooting, such as San Bernardino. And indeed Orlando too, though comparisons with the post 9/11 scene is specious.
"San Bernardino came together. All of it. In every way, shape, and form. And I think the population of America is coming together over Orlando," Sen Feinstein said Tuesday. "Whether all of the politicians do, I can't say."
