Expert warns of America's spike in violence dangerous

The mass shootings that regularly disrupt American life should not be viewed simply as random acts. They reflect a steady unraveling of the sovereign authority of the State, said Richard K Sherwin, professor of law and director of the Visual Persuasion Project at New York Law School in an opinion piece in The Daily Star on July 22.

Sherwin noted that a loss of faith in state police power is dangerous. "Pervasive violence is self-reinforcing. It demonstrates that the old sovereignty is dead or dying. When the state is no longer trusted to provide security and justice, self-reliance represents a potential rival to the state's sovereignty."

According to the story, the violence erupting across the US today stems from three reasons.

First, flooding the market with guns amplifies social instability, Sherwin said. As confusion and fear grow, the forces of reaction gain strength. Just as Sherwin expressed, "those in fear might not be willing to exercise violence themselves, but they will increasingly embrace those who are willing to do so on their behalf."

Meanwhile, the right of people is being threatened by new state laws that open the door to violence against peaceful protesters, Sherwin mentioned.

The danger posed by such laws should be obvious. Sherwin cited an analysis by Ari Weil of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, which shows that in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, there were 72 incidents of cars being driven into protesters across 52 cities in just one month.

Lastly, the electoral process is being threatened by state laws that could empower the Republican Party, which reflects a common purpose: to challenge the legitimacy of the State. As that challenge spreads through traditional and social media, violence becomes increasingly acceptable.

Given these mounting threats, Sherwin called for a viable counterforce to defend the core democratic institutions. "A free press, the right to peaceful assembly, and free and fair elections will require not only increased collective engagement but also real courage."