Magooch has it right. "The underlying impetus for the latest security outrage is obviously an attempt to get ahead of the terrorists."
However, the PTB (Powers That Be) have found themselves on the wrong side of the PDCA (Plan Do Check Act) or OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) loop and the terrorists are in the lead leaving us to respond to their actions.
Not knowing where or what to do but knowing they must to something they - the PTB - choose to punish things and the innocent (same as gun control). This insures that the terrorists will remain in front of the loop.
In one way this situation shows us to be not so bad. The terrorists are forced to use methods that are small, inexpensive, and unlikely to show great success. Being eaten up by a duck.
We have been killing their brain trust. On the down side they are exporting the operations to many small groups. We are fighting a Hydra - cut off one head and it grows seven. To kill a hydra you must destroy it's heart for it has no critical head.