Snipers in political climate raise alarm among security experts

As sniper attacks unfold in multiple U.S. cities, security experts are raising concerns that an old method of assassination has resurfaced as a modern and particularly dangerous threat. Analysts say a toxic political climate, combined with rapid online radicalization and easy access to high-powered rifles, has created what some call a new “assassination culture.”

This month, a gunman on a rooftop in Utah fatally shot conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he addressed a university audience. Days later, another rooftop shooter opened fire on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Dallas, killing one detainee and critically injuring two others. Both incidents followed last year’s attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally, where the former president was grazed by a bullet before Secret Service counter snipers took out the attacker.

Jonathan Wackrow, a former Secret Service agent, said these events mark “a seismic shift in the current threat environment,” pointing out that a shooter with optics at relatively close range requires little training to be deadly. Security professionals note that while teams have long prepared for handgun and direct assault scenarios, the growing sniper threat forces them to rethink venues, rooftop access, and line-of-sight risks.

James Hamilton, a former FBI supervisory special agent, explained that thorough pre-event checks of rooftops and access points are now essential. Experts recommend moving more political and high-profile events indoors, where threats are easier to manage with metal detectors and controlled entry points.

The FBI reports that the Dallas shooter had searched for videos of Kirk’s assassination before launching his own attack, underscoring concerns that online communities can glorify violence and inspire copycat actions. Security professionals and lawmakers are now weighing whether to limit outdoor events entirely as anxiety over sniper threats grows.

Wackrow and others argue that leaders must also take responsibility for reducing incendiary rhetoric, which can contribute to the rapid radicalization of potential attackers. “We have to start suppressing the hate-filled rhetoric,” he warned, “because we’re in this national tailspin.”

Credit: CNN Newsource

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