Mike/GFC - I agree that the CDC figures are for total deaths, not just terrorist related. But they do convey the fact that you're safer now in America than in any time in a long while. I'm tired of the fear industry.
Since 9/11 the death by terrorists in America is even more telling, I think the number is somewhere around zero. Prior to that single day, I think the deaths by terrorists in America were also around zero for a long, long time - except OK City and World Trade Center I in '93.
We could call Timothy McVeigh a terrorist. The Blind Sheik certainly is. But I'm not sure that our militarized LEOs would have prevented those attacks. Maybe more situational awareness is called for. But again, no amount of automatic weapons, MRAPS, and tooled up LEOs would have prevented what really was an intel failure. We didn't lose a gun fight with terrorists. Same for 9/11.
But I'm with you on personal responsibility for your own safety and have taken measures to ensure I'm not defenseless; .22, 7mm, 9mm, .223 ... only lacking either the 12 or 20 gauge.