Americans have forsaken founding values by opposing speech and approving violence, Sen. Hawley says

Americans’ acceptance of political violence and intolerance of free expression marks a departure from the fundamental principles that originally united the country, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, told The Lion in an interview Wednesday. 

“More and more, the foundational principles that we used to agree on as Americans – our belief in the individual, our belief in God, our belief in the rights that come from God – those things are now attenuated, under challenge, and they’re dissolving,” Hawley said. “Our commitment to those is dissolving, and that’s why, I think, you see so much anxiety, anger and even violence in the country. We’ve got to change that.”

Following the third known assassination attempt against President Donald Trump Saturday at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Hawley called for a congressional hearing on presidential security protections and whether the reforms Congress has already proposed have been adopted, according to a press release.

America has faced significant political divisions in its history, Hawley told The Lion. But today, many Americans regard political speech as harmful yet approve political violence.

“That’s exactly backwards,” Hawley said. “Political speech ought to be open and robust and welcomed. That’s what the First Amendment really protects. It’s a core principle of our Constitution and of our life together in a democracy. It’s that we can have open, honest disagreements.”

According to a December Gallup poll, roughly 16% of Americans say violence is sometimes justified to bring about political change. The approval of violence increases among younger Americans, with 30% of 18-29 year olds and 20% of 30-44 year olds saying political violence is sometimes justified. Another report late last year showed leftist political violence has hit a 30-year high.

“We need to get back to the place, as Abraham Lincoln said, where we don’t appeal from ballots to bullets, where we don’t appeal from speech to violence, where we can have open and honest, even heated disagreement, but we recognize that the people we’re disagreeing with are still our fellow Americans, and by all means, and under any circumstance, we’re not going to hurt them,” Hawley said.

Image credit: Sen. Josh Hawley (Facebook)