The Daily Think

HISTORY OF….

Donald J. Trump was shot at, and almost killed on 7/13/2024. Thankfully he is safe, but Corey Comperatore, 50, received the bullet fired from Thomas Matthew Crooks. More information is sure to come out over the next few days, but history will have to look back on the consequences of this attempt.

Throughout history, political assassination attempts have turned the course of countries and governments and quickly became a rallying cry for the offending or offended counter party. In this case, there is no party or side to blame except a radicalized American citizen. The only fact for this guy was his high-powered rifle that he had access to based on rather loose gun control laws. But access to guns in America is like getting illicit drugs: If you want it, you can get it.

So instead of looking at this incident, which is currently being unpacked, let’s look at 5 important assassination attempts that have changed history.

1. The Assassination of Adolf Hitler (July 20, 1944)
   Attempt: Known as the July 20 Plot, this attempt involved a bomb placed in a briefcase at a meeting in Wolf’s Lair.
   Consequence: The bomb failed to kill Hitler, who survived with minor injuries. The aftermath led to the execution of many conspirators, including high-ranking German officers, and increased paranoia within the Nazi regime.
2. The Assassination of Ronald Reagan (March 30, 1981)
   Attempt: John Hinckley Jr. shot Reagan outside a Washington D.C. hotel, injuring him and several others.
   Consequence: Reagan survived, but the incident resulted in heightened security measures for politicians and public figures, leading to the establishment of more stringent Secret Service protocols.
3. The Assassination of Pope John Paul II (May 13, 1981)
   Attempt: Mehmet Ali Ağca shot the Pope in St. Peter’s Square, but John Paul II survived despite serious injuries.
   Consequence: The Pope’s survival led to efforts for interfaith dialogue and reconciliation, as well as a focus on security for religious leaders worldwide.
4. The Assassination of FDR (February 15, 1933)
   Attempt: An assassin fired shots at Franklin D. Roosevelt in Miami, but he was unharmed. The shots accidentally hit the mayor of Chicago instead.
   Consequence: The attempt underscored the need for enhanced security for future presidents, and it led to increased awareness of political violence in the U.S.
5. The Assassination of Muammar Gaddafi (1986)
   Attempt: The U.S. launched airstrikes targeting Gaddafi’s compound in Libya, but he survived the attack.
   Consequence: The failed attempt strained U.S.-Libya relations for decades to come and intensified Gaddafi’s anti-American rhetoric, leading to years of hostility between the two nations.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE

Let’s remember the victim in this recent crime and see where the country goes from here. Neither Political party is directly responsible, but the atmosphere that they created allowed it to happen. Where we go from here, is up to us, but from history’s examination, there will be ripples in the sea of history.