Authorities Probe Trump Shooter’s Motive - But This Isn’t Rational Behavior

Individual Violence Isn’t a Rational Political ActAfter incidents like the recent attempt by Cole Tomas Allen on Donald Trump, the public conversation quickly turns to blame, usually aimed at specific rhetoric or a political opponent. But step back for a moment. Internal shooter logic like: “I’m unhappy about healthcare, so I’ll shoot a CEO” or “I’m angry about immigration, so I’ll target public officials” is not political reasoning. It’s a breakdown in reasoning. That leap from grievance to violence is not something most people, regardless of ideology, are capable of making. Why Blaming Specific Rhetoric Falls ShortIt’s tempting to draw a straight line: someone said something → someone acted on it. But that assumes a rational chain of influence. In reality, unstable individuals often appropriate whatever narrative is available to justify actions that originate elsewhere. If one set of rhetoric didn’t exist, another likely would. That’s why blaming a specific statement or speaker…