When violence becomes terrorism and how we must respond

Over the past several weeks, the nation has seen a troubling escalation in violent incidents. In Minneapolis, a gunman recently murdered several children at Annunciation Catholic Church.

In Charlotte, N.C., a deranged individual fatally stabbed an innocent Ukrainian refugee on the light rail. In Utah, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered while speaking to students on a college campus. Last month, a sniper opened fire on a Dallas ICE facility, killing two detainees and critically wounding another.

Sadly, these incidents are not isolated. They reflect a broader surge in targeted, often politically motivated violence that threatens our way of life. From the killings of public figures to attacks on ordinary citizens caught in the crossfire of rising partisanship, the pattern is cl