Political Violence

This weekend’s tragedy in Tucson points out once again how hate speech and “Second Amendment” rights have distorted and are now on the verge of seriously damaging American democracy.

Yes, the murders and the attempted assassination of Representative Giffords were the actions of a deranged man…but the deranged man was legally carrying a concealed weapon, that had been legally obtained. Guns, concealed or otherwise, have been carried to political rallies before - including one where President Obama was speaking.

Until Saturday, these guns have only been used to attempt intimidation. A line was crossed Saturday.  In hindsight, it was bound to be crossed at some point. The right mix of permissive gun laws, virulent political speech and a mentally unstable person came together in Tucson and six people are dead.

Giffords was apparently the target from alleged findings at the killer’s home. She was also famously targeted by Sarah Palin’s cross-hairs as one of 20 representatives that needed to be defeated. In announcing the map, Palin issued a tweet urging her supporters "Don't retreat. Instead — reload!"

After the murders, a Palin aide denied that they were actually meant to be cross-hairs. Not sure how this is consistent with the tweet. A strong denunciation of violent rhetoric and an apology by Sarah Palin would help us believe it.  In fact, a strong denunciation of all hate-filled, divisive or violent speech by all political leaders would be a good start to regain civility in the national discourse.

In another twist of this sad story, "U.S. District Judge John M. Roll, who was killed in the Tucson shooting rampage, appeared to have been an innocent bystander Saturday, but was the target of death threats in 2009 when he emerged as a central figure in Arizona’s bitter disputes over illegal immigration." [Los Angeles Times article on Chicago Tribune website]

Marty Kaplan posted an excellent article yesterday. “The Vitriol in our National Bloodstream” shows some of the right-wing reaction to the sheriff in charge of the case decrying “the vitriolic rhetoric that we hear day in and day out from people in the radio business and some people in the TV business.”

Kaplan notes Reagan's quote that "Government is the problem" but concludes: "He was wrong. The problem is bad government, and the job of every generation is to make it work better, not to drive a stake through its heart….Killing government is the mission of an assassin. The vitriol in our national bloodstream is the crackpot notion that killing government is the mission of the rest of us.”

CORRECTION: This post originally indicated nine dead.  That was incorrect. Six were killed,