Actually I think it's the focus on large scale attacks that keeps us safe. From a psychological perspective, a series of seemingly random small scale attacks dr

Actually I think it's the focus on large scale attacks that keeps us safe. From a psychological perspective, a series of seemingly random small scale attacks drawn out over several months would be far more devastating and fear inducing than one big attack (baring use of a chemical or nuclear weapon). Imagine a mass shooting every week in various locations (a mall, a hospital, a sporting event, a rural location). People would be afraid to go outside even though the overall damage and risk to them at a population level would be relatively minimal. Why don't people do this? My guess is because it's not sexy. People want to participate in a high profile huge attack, not a small random shooting which by itself doesn't do much. Large scale attacks are inherently watched for, planned for, and guarded against. Small scale attacks are almost impossible to guard against and stop.