MSNBC host Chuck Todd on Tuesday asked why Americans shouldn't discuss how to deal with gun violence following the mass shooting in Las Vegas, pointing to other major incidents that sparked conversations on related policy issues.

"Tonight I'm obsessed with timing. We hear it after every incident like this, and we've heard it again today: 'Now is not the time to talk about how to deal with gun violence.' Now is not the time. Think about that, why is now not the time?" Todd said on air.

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Democrats on Monday rallied for stricter gun laws after Sunday's shooting, the most deadly in modern U.S. history. Democrats replaced a Monday press conference pushing for federal aid for hurricane victims with a briefing urging Congress to implement more thorough background checks. Republicans pushed back, warning against violations of the Second Amendment's right to bear arms.

"When planes flew into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon did we say 'Now is not the time to talk about terrorism and homeland security?' When our banking system nearly collapsed in 2008 did we say 'Now is not the time to talk about financial regulation?' " Todd said.

At least 59 people were killed and over 500 others were injured in Sunday's attack on a country music festival in the Las Vegas strip. The shooter used modified semi-automatic weapons that sustained rates of fire similar to automatic weapons.

"The point is, this is exactly the time to talk about any issue, gun violence included. If we wait until cooler heads prevail on any of these, we never talk about it," Todd said. "In fact, if we apply the same logic to every other debate and every other crisis that this country faces that we do to the gun debate, we never would have focused on any of those issues either."

Republicans on Tuesday cancelled a vote in the House on legislation that would provide easier access to gun silencers.