Last weekend, a lone gunman attempted to assassinate former president Donald Trump during a campaign rally.
The attempt was unsuccessful: Trump was only slightly injured when a bullet grazed his ear, though an attendee behind him was killed and two others were wounded.
It appears the gunman was seen on a rooftop before the shooting, but not stopped before he started firing. Obviously, there were glitches and holes in the security coverage for the former president, and those need to be identified and corrected.
But should we be surprised that this happens in a country with as many guns as people—where rhetoric from politicians to passersby is filled with vitriol and hatred, animosity and threats?
I am currently on an extended visit to Israel, a country that is fighting a war against terrorists from Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah firing upon the northern communities from Lebanon. It’s a country that’s divided on a number of key issues, including how to return the hostages kidnapped 9 months ago and the best way to ensure the safety of civilians moving forward.
Yet, I can walk down the streets of Tel Aviv—a big bustling city like New York on a smaller scale—and not worry about gun violence, street crime, petty theft, homelessness, racial or anti-semitic violence. In many ways, I feel safer here than I do at home.
In spite of their differences, Israelis are dedicated to their country and their people. They may disagree vehemently with their political opponents, but when the sirens blare and threats come in, they’ll come together to defend those around them without regard to their political beliefs.
In the US, on the other hand, we see nothing but turmoil and divisiveness. We look to vilify the other side and find a way to make them take the blame.
Americans are more than 26 times more likely to be killed by gun violence than people in other countries. Over 100 people die in the US per day from gunshot wounds. We lose children, parents, celebrities, and ordinary people. Last week, we almost lost a presidential candidate.
What will it take to move on from this mess? Or are we doomed like Sisyphus to repeat the cycle again and again, without learning from past experience? Will we be surprised when this happens again?
