The dead had yet to be counted, the injured barely in ambulances and the unknown, heavily armed masked suspects were at large. Yet, the political positioning has already begun.

Leading the way, the President of the United States. With the nation trying to grasp the nature of the unfolding tragedy playing out on live TV, with the Paris attacks merely 19 days in the past, Barack Obama immediately chose gun control over comfort. He told CBS News:

My hope is that we’re able to contain this particular shooting and, and we don’t yet know what the motives of the shooters are, but what we do know is, is that there are steps we can take to make Americans safer and that we should come together in a bipartisan basis at every level of government to make these rare as opposed to normal. We should never think that this is something that just happens in the ordinary course of events.

He added, again with no knowledge of who or what is behind today’s attack, that the pattern of U.S. mass shootings has “no parallel anywhere else in the world.” A fact-check piece published by The Washington Post only hours before today’s assault indicates otherwise.  So, too, did the Paris attacks in November and earlier in the year.

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton had this response to the masked men opening fire on a mission hitting a Christmas party of county workers:

I refuse to accept this as normal. We must take action to stop gun violence now. -H https://t.co/SkKglwQycb

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 2, 2015

Thus far, she has not yet blamed a YouTube video. Clinton’s rival for the Democratic nomination, former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley was quick to hit Twitter. And quick to point the finger … straight at the National Rifle Association:

Horrifying news out of #SanBernardino. Enough is enough: it's time to stand up to the @NRA and enact meaningful gun safety laws

— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) December 2, 2015

Bernie Sanders’ first response is similar:

Mass shootings are becoming an almost-everyday occurrence in this country. This sickening and senseless gun violence must stop.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 2, 2015

On the Republican side of the aisle, response has been as rapid, but of a different tone and with a common theme:

California shooting looks very bad. Good luck to law enforcement and God bless. This is when our police are so appreciated!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2015

Praying for the victims, their families & the San Bernardino first responders in the wake of this tragic shooting.

— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 2, 2015

My thoughts and prayers are with the shooting victims and their families in San Bernardino.

— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) December 2, 2015

Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the first responders in San Bernardino who willingly go into harm’s way to save others

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 2, 2015

Praying for those impacted by the shooting in California today.

— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) December 2, 2015

Praying for all those victimized by the shootings in San Bernardino, California today.

— Governor Christie (@GovChristie) December 2, 2015

How would the psalmist respond in this hour of trouble and uncertainty? With a lament, no doubt, but perhaps also with a reminder: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” (Psalm 118:8 RSV)