Trump Assassination Attempt and the Persistent Gun Problem in America
Today’s news that former President Donald Trump was injured in an attack in Butler, Pennsylvania, is both shocking and deeply troubling. Political violence has no room in a democracy, especially not in one that calls itself an example for the rest of the world.
In Latin America, unfortunately, we have experienced our fair share of assassination attempts on political figures. Recent cases include the attack on Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in 2018 and the assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio in August 2023.
In 2024 alone, there have been multiple high-profile political assassinations in Mexico. Jorge Huerta Cabrera, a candidate for local office in Puebla, was murdered in June, marking the 37th political assassination of the election season.
But this kind of political violence is not supposed to happen in the United States, or at least that’s what we think. We tend to imagine that our peer nations are wealthy countries in Europe. However, gun violence in European countries is negligible compared to the United States. Access to guns is very limited in Europe. In fact, when it comes to gun violence, the US has much more in common with Latin America.
The table below lists 14 assassination attempts of presidents or presidential candidates in US history.
Assassination Attempts of Presidents and Presidential Candidates in the United States
The Bigger Picture
Today’s incident involving Donald Trump underscores the persistent and alarming issue of gun violence in America. While security measures for protecting leaders may have been improved over the years as a result of technological innovations, the widespread availability of firearms continues to pose a substantial threat.
Gun violence affects everybody, not just political leaders. It kills everyday citizens in schools, workplaces, and public spaces across the country. Addressing the root causes of gun violence and implementing sensible gun control measures are crucial steps toward creating a safer society for all.
