Violence against US politicians and diplomats has been a recurring theme throughout the country’s history. From the attempted assassination of President Andrew Jackson in 1835 to the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in 2011, numerous incidents have highlighted the risks faced by public figures.
Notable Incidents
Some notable incidents include the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, the shooting of President James Garfield in 1881, and the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981. More recently, the shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise in 2017 and the attack on former President Donald Trump’s rally in 2024 have raised concerns about the safety of politicians.
In addition to these high-profile incidents, many other politicians and diplomats have been targeted over the years. The list includes Rep. James Hinds, who was shot and killed in 1868, and Sen. Huey Long, who was shot and killed in 1935.
US diplomats have also been targeted, including US Ambassador to Guatemala John Gordon Mein, who was killed by guerrillas in 1968, and US Ambassador to Libya John Christopher Stevens, who was killed in an attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi in 2012.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
