To The Reader’s Forum:

Mr. Langworthy and Mr. Borrello failed us all by not urging calm and restraint and by not withholding statements until all the facts were in regarding Charlie Kirk’s shooting death. Instead of waiting for facts and evidence they both immediately leveled politically charged accusations without knowing anything about the shooter or his motives.

Mr. Langworthy came right out and accused a large group of people of murder;

“The extreme Left chose today not to fight a war of ideas — but to indulge their derangement through cold-blooded murder.”

Mr. Borrello was slightly more measured but still unjustly implied blame;

“For years, many on the left – including some elected Democrats — have vilified and dehumanized conservatives, branding us as threats rather than fellow citizens with different views. That toxic rhetoric fuels extremism and hate. No disagreement over policy justifies violence, and no American should fear for their life because of their political beliefs.”

It’s entirely possible the shooter is an individual with a personal vendetta against Kirk. Perhaps he took offense at this statement Kirk made on April 5, 2023 about shootings; “I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”

Our Congressman, State Senator, and many other elected officials have endangered all Americans by adding fuel to an already tense situation. Enemies, foreign and domestic, will have made note of this. As a result we may see more strife instigated by foreign adversaries who will incite violence by using the irrational eagerness of many elected officials to jump to conclusions and attack their fellow Americans.

Mr. Langworthy and Mr. Borrello, your toxic rhetoric fuels extremism and hate and endangers us all.

Andrea Hatfield

Jamestown