By Dave Workman
Fox News recently reported on a startling survey which warns of the rise of something called the “assassination culture,” defined as a “public tolerance of politically motivated violence.”
A new national survey by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) revealed this phenomenon, and specifically says it is increasing “especially among women.”
The survey found that 38 percent of respondents “stated it would be at least somewhat justified to murder President Trump.” Another 31 percent think it would be “at least somewhat justified” to murder Elon Musk. According to a synopsis of the NCIR report, “These effects were driven by respondents that self-identified as left of center.”
According to the Fox report, NCRI has been studying this “assassination culture” since before last year’s slaying of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, in front of a huge crowd at a Utah university.
Recent history includes two attempted assassinations of Donald Trump on the campaign trail in 2024, and the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
The introduction of the NCRI report puts it bluntly: “Following the July 13, 2024 attempted assassination of President Trump, tolerance – and even advocacy – for political violence appears to have surged, especially among politically left-leaning segments of the population.”
The same document notes, “The reports found widespread justification for lethal violence – including assassination – among younger, highly online, and ideologically left-aligned users.”
The alarming report has gotten some attention beyond Fox News. The National Desk reported on the phenomenon a few days ago.
A report by the Ripon Society is also available online. It warns, “Part of what made this story so interesting was that it flipped the story we were used to hearing in the U.S. today: that political violence always comes from the Right. What we were seeing is that, at least in this case, almost all of it was coming from the political Left. The vast numbers of Americans who supported the killing of Brian Thompson did so in the name of an anti-capitalist, and very anti-American, kind of ideology.”
Fox News noted, “Researchers asked more than 1,000 respondents nationwide on a scale of zero to six about two high-profile political figures, Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The study looked into tolerance for violence, not intent to commit it.”
Workman is editor-in-chief at TheGunMag.com
