I'm glad you opened with the bolded, which is exactly why guns are the prime defense weapon.
Even if those homicidal maniacs didn't have access to guns, they would still find a way to kill innocent children, innocent people - because they are homicidal. Yes, without guns they may not kill more than a few at a time, but explosives and knives and bats and a 4 door vehicle can do much damage.
The mass media events (real or not) are there to shape public opinion and they cast fear in the minds of a rather weak populace.
You say the guns make it easier for the homocidal maniac; I say the guns make it easier to defend myself, my family, and others from those homicidal maniacs - which includes the government if need be, which was the original intent behind the 2nd amendment..