The killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on a university campus in Utah is a chilling reminder of how violence has seeped into the bloodstream of American politics. What should have been an afternoon of debate and dissent among students ended in chaos, with thousands fleeing in terror as a single bullet cut through the noise. Kirk’s death is not just the silencing of one controversial figure.

It is the latest symptom of a political culture where rhetoric is so overheated, grievances so entrenched, and firearms so readily available that disagreement increasingly risks crossing the line into bloodshed. The FBI has now released images of a young man described as a person of interest, believed to be of college age. A six-figure reward has been announced, underscoring the urgency with which authorities are pursuing the case. But no amount of money or security footage can undo the........

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