DEAR EDITOR:

The recent assassination of a well-followed young husband and father, a political activist, was distressing, uncalled for, and another unfortunate example of violence in the U.S. It’s news that appears to be daily, like the weather forecast. We expect it.

As always, the response to the tragedy was quick and expected from our elected officials, those who, during such incidents, are often sought after for guidance and, more so, support, providing some actions that seek to remedy such occurrences. Such guidance, such support is necessary if we as a nation seek to alleviate such tragedies and allow us to believe we are not ignoring what happened, seek the reasons why and begin to heal our nation.

I didn’t see that happen. What I saw was an immediate political, extremely acrimonious response, adding to what I believe is one of the causation factors behind these occurrences, that being “us against them.”

Several high-ranking political officials responded with:

“They sent a trained sniper.”

“The Left is the party of murder.”

“It is time to disrupt, arrest and incarcerate all of those responsible.”

And the most powerful political leader responded by blaming the “radical left.”

Data shows there were over 600 deaths and over 1,200 injuries in both public and private school shootings between 2001 and 2025.

The response from political leaders to those tragic events was more in line with “acceptance.” As a matter of fact, our president, during one of his campaign rallies, shortly after an Iowa school shooting, told Iowans to “get over it.”

A recent poll shows that many have taken the position that “something is seriously wrong.”

What’s wrong is this constant divisive drum beating, empowering the divisive atmosphere within our nation.

As for the hundreds of students killed, the thousands seriously injured, if only they were politically involved, more than just someone’s child who went to school that day with a kiss and a hug, maybe they would have received such a “something is seriously wrong” response.

God bless and help America!

JOHN P. LESEGANICH

Canfield