Early today, a gunman open fired at a baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. Donna Hoffman, an associate professor of political science at the University of Northern Iowa says while tragic, the event is not unique.
"It’s important to remember in times like this that America often has violent events like this," she says.
"There have only been 45 presidents in our nation’s history and four of them have been assassinated. There’s something about America in terms of our political culture perhaps that we have these events periodically. Other countries don’t, and it’s an interesting thought experiment to ask, 'Why does this happen?’”
During this hour of River to River, she talks with host Ben Kieffer. Jonathan Hassid, an assistant professor of political science at Iowa State University, also joins the conversation.
