Recent events are highlighting a disturbing fact: political violence is becoming much more frequent. From a deadly attack on lawmakers in Minnesota to arson threats in Texas and chaos in Washington, D.C., the headlines keep rolling in. But the American public seems…not surprised? Are we as a country becoming desensitized to political violence?
On June 14, 2025, Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated in their home, while State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were critically injured in a seemingly connected attack. It was discovered that the suspect, Vance Boelter, had a manifesto and a long list of targets, some of which include Democratic officials and reproductive rights activists. This attack follows a larger theme of politically motivated violence, which has escalated since the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
Public interest in this, however, seems to be waning. With so much violence in the news, citizens are starting to feel like this is normal. Considering the current climate of the United States, hate and division have become second nature. People are starting to almost expect these kinds of actions, which is a terrifying and problematic reality.
It may be media fatigue, the fact that when something is reported on too often it loses its impact. Think about school shootings. They happen so often in the U.S. that many people accept it as a horrible aspect of reality, not a thing that can be changed. Political violence is quickly headed in that direction.
A large majority reject political violence as always justified, with only 3% agreeing. The feelings towards political violence when it is circumstantial, such as when rights are threatened, vary more. Whether people think violent acts are justified or not, however, does not take away from the fact that people should care. Violence, when political, is very often performed to call attention to an issue, so the public’s indifference causes a unique problem where this activity may continue and no change is made.
Unfortunately, violence can incite reform, but only when there is public backing. If Americans continue to accept it as normal, we are headed into a very bleak future.
