“We also know when people are armed with powerful weapons, unfortunately, it makes attacks like these more deadly and more tragic,” he said. “In the days ahead, we will have to consider those realities as well. In the meantime, today, our focus is on the victims and their families.”

[‘Like a little war’: Snipers shoot 11 police officers during Dallas protest march, killing five]

Obama’s comment on guns was more an addendum than the focus of his remarks. It also laid down a marker…

He clearly sees these tragedies as partially due to American gun culture, and thinks the appropriate response is to do something about that.

At the same time, taking a political stand just hours after Americans have been killed is the sort of action that leaves any politician exposed — which is why relatively few do it, preferring to stick to a safe zone filled with thoughts and prayers. People who don’t think new gun laws are the answer to a tragedy like this — about half the population, according to some polls — will see Obama using the tragedy to do something they disagree with. Many of those same people will see Obama skirting the real issues — whether radical Islam, mental health or something else — especially if he neglects to also mention them in his remarks.