Why the political blame game starts moments after a shooting

Since Columbine, more than a quarter century ago, high-profile shootings have sparked national debate about what laws, if any, could have prevented the bloodshed, and the place of guns in society. Over the years, these tragedies have also inspired hand-wringing over other factors that may be at play. It started with heavy metal music and video games, and soon it turned to psychiatric medications. Now it’s radicalization on the dark web, The Trace reports.

But in recent years, most acutely during the Trump era, a different type of debate has taken hold over the shooter’s gender identity and politics. The question, “Is the shooter a Democrat or Republican?” has come to dominate discussion following Charlie Kirk’s September 10

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