When Political Violence Becomes Acceptable

When political opponents become existential threats, violence can begin to look like virtue. America traditionally has had a rather simple method for dealing with politicians we don’t like. We vote against them. We argue, campaign, write letters, give speeches, hold rallies, donate money, put obnoxious signs in our yards, and ultimately go to the ballot box. What we don’t do is shoot them. Or at least that used to be the understanding. Some disturbing new polling suggests that boundary is eroding. The Overton Window on political disagreement is shifting. University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape, director of the Chicago...