[Baltimore Sun] Trump assassination attempt deserves universal condemnation | STAFF COMMENTARY
Read Time:4 Minute, 14 Second
In these politically polarized times and with inflammatory (and often misleading) claims now a standard feature of our political disagreements, it is somewhat heartening to be reminded that the vast majority of Americans still hold dear our nation’s core values. Surely the most important is that we settle our differences at the ballot box, not at gunpoint. Exhibit A in this lesson is the swift and certain condemnation of what appears to have been a second attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life over the weekend. It wasn’t just fellow Republicans but Democrats, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running against Trump (along with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz), issuing statements reminding Americans that “there is no place for political violence” in this country and praising law enforcement for intervening.
Naturally, there were responsible voices, and then there were the irresponsible ones who used social media platforms to make inflammatory claims or speculation. Among the worst — if only because he should know better and is now closely aligned with Trump — was Elon Musk. The billionaire’s now-deleted post on X observed that “no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala” as if to invite some crazed gunman to train his sites in that direction. It was especially reckless for someone who not only has a huge platform as one of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world but also owns one of the largest social media platforms. Musk’s observation may attract attention online, but it should be regarded as disqualifying to anyone with aspirations beyond internet troll — including, for example, leading a government efficiency commission, a post Trump has touted for the Tesla CEO. That the alleged assassin had in his possession a GoPro camera, a device commonly used to livestream events on the internet, underscores the social media connection.
A reminder of what we know and don’t know at this stage: U.S. Secret Service agents observed an individual with a rifle near the grounds of the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach and opened fire. Trump was reportedly 400 to 500 yards away. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of Hawaii, was later taken into custody with an AK-47-style rifle, a scope and a backpack along with that camera. His social media presence suggests he’s a supporter of Ukraine and its war against Russia and once backed U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders for president, referring to Biden as “Sleepy Joe.” As for his motivation and state of mind (including sanity), we will likely have to wait for the days and weeks ahead.
Meanwhile, we can think of few mental exercises more foolish than to draw conclusions about the state of the electorate, let alone about what’s on the minds of liberals or conservatives, from the behavior of a single individual — whether it’s Routh or Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, the shooter who killed a spectator and shot two others at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in July. Crooks was shot dead by the Secret Service, and his exact motivations remain a mystery. But then, so what? We can recall no political assassin ever offering any critical insight into public policy or anything else other than their own sociopathic tendencies. Often, what misanthropes nurse in their fevered dreams is simply an overwhelming desire to be famous. Perhaps the less attention steered their way, the better.
As for whether this second assassination attempt suggests Trump isn’t adequately protected, we would certainly endorse the Biden administration’s view that whatever resources are needed to keep the candidates safe should be allocated. Whether a perfect protective bubble can be provided — short of keeping candidates behind bulletproof glass 24 hours a day and never allowing them to interact with average Americans (let alone play golf) — remains to be seen. Already, Republicans seem to be lining up behind a claim of inadequate Secret Service protection as a way to blame the Biden administration without broaching the less popular topic of gun safety.
Let it not be lost on the citizens of Florida that their state could stand to tighten its gun safety laws. The GOP majority of the U.S. House of Representatives also has some work to do on that issue. Florida no longer requires people to have a permit to carry a concealed firearm in public. The Sunshine State, home of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, recorded 14 gun deaths per 100,000 residents last year (compared to Maryland’s 13.6), according to Everytown for Gun Safety. And why is there no national ban on assault-style weapons that are unnecessary for hunting or self-defense but certainly seem to be the choices of mass shooters and assassins? That the NRA strongly opposes the ban should no longer be regarded as anything close to an adequate excuse for inaction on Capitol Hill.
Baltimore Sun editorial writers offer opinions and analysis on news and issues relevant to readers. They operate separately from the newsroom.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0