Americans who still believe in law and order should be alarmed by the new data now surfacing about left-wing political violence. A respected national study found that in the first half of 2025 attacks motivated by the radical left outnumbered those by the violent far right, a shocking reversal after decades of right-wing incidents dominating headlines. This is not a topic for punditry games or partisan excuses — it is a warning that violent political fervor has metastasized on the left, and it requires a strong response.

Some will rush to minimize the numbers and point out that right-wing violence has historically been worse, and that context matters. That is true — history matters — but context is no excuse for complacency when we now see a growing pattern of targeted attacks, attempts to intimidate public life, and a readiness to use violence against ideological opponents. When trends reverse, even temporarily, prudent citizens and policymakers should respond with urgency rather than debate semantics while people bleed.

That urgency became painfully real in September when conservative leader Charlie Kirk was gunned down while speaking, an act officials have treated as a political assassination and that investigators say included chilling anti-fascist engravings on spent casings. The suspect arrested has been charged with aggravated murder and other felonies, and law enforcement continues to investigate motive and connections. Whether one name is pinned to the movement or not, the message sent by that killing — and by other violent encounters at political protests and on campuses — is unmistakable: ideological hatred has become operationalized.

The mainstream media and the chattering class live in denial or indifference about where this violence often begins. Too many in power write off radicals on the left as protestors or mischaracterize violent actions as isolated incidents, while conservative voices are smeared and silenced. That double standard is dangerous; equal protection under the law means the federal government, states, and local prosecutors must treat left-wing radical violence with the same seriousness they demand for threats from the right.

Policy-makers should move beyond finger-wagging and take specific steps to protect Americans and punish perpetrators. Investigations must trace financing and networks that facilitate violent actions, social media platforms should be held accountable for amplifying calls to violence, and federal authorities should use every lawful tool to disrupt plots and prosecute criminals to the fullest extent. Law-abiding citizens have a right to attend events, worship, and speak their minds without fearing violence born of political animus.

Culturally, this is a wake-up call about what decades of one-sided indoctrination has produced in our institutions of higher learning, entertainment, and some non-profit circles. When a generation is taught that aggressive coercion is acceptable to achieve political ends, it should surprise no one that a minority will translate that teaching into bullets and arson. Restoring civic virtue starts with telling the truth about the threat we face and rebuilding institutions that prize moderation, faith, and family over factional rage.

Hardworking Americans must demand clarity and courage from their leaders. We should insist on equal enforcement, transparent investigations, and policies that protect free speech without protecting those who would use violence to advance their agenda. Defending the right to live and work in peace is not partisan theater — it is the first duty of government and of every citizen who loves liberty.