Is Anyone Responsible for the WHCD Shooting Other Than the Shooter Himself?
In the American tradition — legal and cultural — only those who commit violence are culpable, not those who express views that align with its perpetrators.
As occurs with every act or attempted act of political violence in the U.S., many have attempted to blame the rhetoric of their political adversaries for “inspiring” or...
The article presents a principled defense of free speech, arguing that blaming political rhetoric for violence—whether from the left or right—undermines democratic norms. The strongest version of this narrative is that holding speakers responsible for the actions of violent individuals sets a dangerous precedent, chilling political discourse and enabling partisan weaponization of tragedy. The piece effectively steelmans this position by acknowledging that both sides engage in extreme rhetoric wh...