A popular criticism within contemporary American politics is that shootings such as the one we just saw in Florida represent the “one type” of tragedy to which the federal government refuses to respond. On Twitter earlier this week, CNN’s Chris Cuomo made exactly this case, adding in the attendant observation that the federal government had no trouble reacting to terrorist attacks such as the one America suffered through on 9/11.

This critique is a common one. Indeed, I hear it constantly when expressing skepticism toward further gun-control. And yet it surprises me every time. Why would anyone use 9/11 as a model governmental response — especially if they lean toward the progressive side of the aisle? The reaction to 9/11 included the passage of an open-ended AUMF that has permitted the executive branch to bypass Congress’s war-making role; the invasion of Iraq; the creation of the TSA; and the passage of the Patriot Act. All of those measures had pretty much unanimous support in both the House and Senate, except for the invasion of Iraq, which had supermajority support. All of those measures were enthusiastically supported by a shocked and grieving public that was desperate for “something to be done.” And, in my view, all of those measures were mistakes. “Do something!” is almost always a dangerous cry. Is that really the moment we wish to emulate?