There is one MAJOR difference. Within the bounds of the constitution as it exists today, we could likely eliminate all of these type of terror events, by literally banning imigration. Now, that would never pass congress, but I'm just saying.
Shenanigans. Ineffectual policy based on fear is a truly stupid way to govern, "I'm just saying."
How many times do people have to point out that statistically immigrants commit less crimes than Americans by birth right. Less murders, less violent crime, less rapes, less property crimes, and on and on.
IMMIGRATION MAKES US SAFER. Banning all immigration will increase the crime rate in the United States.
And eliminate terror events?
Except the 58 dead in Vegas (not terrorism if a white guy opens up with automatic weapons)
Except the people killed in San Francisco shooting (not terrorism when a white guy shoots up a warehouse)
The 5 people killed in Orange County Florida (not terrorism when a white guy gets fired and kills coworkers)
Hell, that only gets through the widely known mass killings since June of 2017!
If we are talking about clear terrorism, banning immigration would not have stopped:
100+ people shot for being at a gay nightclub
Or a dozen people getting shot at Planned Parenthood in Colorado
Or a dozen people shot for praying at a black church in SC
If it only counts as terrorism when Muslims kill people for political reasons...
36 people shot by a natural born US citizen in San Bernadino and her Pakistani husband (but but but surely the American was only bad because of them immigrants! All evidence about mass killings above excluded)
If you think you need to immigrate to the US to commit an act of terrorism? There was this one time when a group of expats flew a damn plan into the World Trade Center and killed thousands of people. They weren't trying to immigrate to the US. So we better ban all immigrants, students, tourists, and visitors to the United States. To keep us safe.
Islam has a serious problem with fundamentalists who think it is their job to try to force their beliefs on everyone and that its fair to murder people who do not share their beliefs. Sadly, they are not alone. An immigration ban would certainly stop some attacks, but as a percent of people affected and as well as percent of attacks - it would be sadly insignificant.
Hiding in a hole or changing the entire nature of the country because we are afraid is a foolish idea that wouldn't work anyway. But thanks for that healthy dose of xenophobia!