An Islamic terrorist's rifle attack on patrons of a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., last weekend has Americans talking about what led to it and about what could prevent similar massacres. What's the lesson of the Orlando attack?

What jumped out at you as the biggest issue in play after the deadliest mass murder in U.S. history? Is this mostly about terrorism?

What should it tell the nation's leaders about how to combat violent extremism? Did law enforcement authorities do the best they could to stop him, or did they fail by dropping investigations of the gunman in 2013 and 2014?

Is this mostly about guns? Are gun-control advocates right to hope the incident will inspire renewed debate about an assault-weapon ban or other regulations? Are there changes in the law that would make it harder for terrorists to get these sorts of weapons?

Is this mostly about bigotry against gays? Should the LGBT community feel unsafe? Is the attacker's decision to target a gay club a result of some Muslims' condemnation of gays, or might attitudes seen in recent debates about transgender people's bathroom access have contributed?

Will Americans find answers, or are we too divided? How well do you think U.S. leaders are responding?

REPRINTED FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Photo credit: Ted Eytan