The danger is no longer hypothetical. In Utah, Kirk was struck by a single round fired from a rooftop less than 500 feet away while he spoke to an audience at Utah Valley University. Despite the presence of a professional security detail, the attack was over before anyone could react. Days later, a similar incident occurred in Dallas when a gunman opened fire from the top of a building at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office, killing a migrant detainee and injuring two others before taking his own life.

The killing of Kirk has prompted some members of Congress to postpone outdoor events and hire private security, while others are lobbying for federal funding to protect political figures. House Oversight Chairman James Comer has suggested limiting outdoor rallies as a temporary safety measure, and Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz — who survived an assassination attempt — has moved all of his appearances indoors.

The rise of sniper attacks is being fueled by what experts describe as a “modern assassination culture,” a volatile mix of ideological rage, online radicalization, and easy access to weapons. Unlike past lone-wolf attackers, many of these shooters show no long-term history of violence before their assaults, making it nearly impossible to identify them in advance.

Investigators say the man suspected of killing Kirk had been radicalized online in a matter of months. Bullet casings recovered at the scene were etched with phrases referencing internet memes and video game culture, pointing to the digital spaces where his worldview had hardened into deadly intent.

The suspect in the Dallas attack had reportedly searched for videos of Kirk’s assassination shortly before his own rampage, leaving behind notes expressing hatred toward the federal government and ICE.

“This isn’t just about guns or mental health,” Wackrow said. “This is about a cultural feedback loop that glorifies violence against political enemies and convinces otherwise ordinary people to take the next step.”

The danger is already influencing how government agencies operate. The 9/11 memorial ceremony attended by Trump earlier this month was moved from its traditional outdoor site at the Pentagon to a secure interior courtyard — a decision security officials described as a direct response to the sniper threat.

Experts warn that unless political leaders de-escalate their rhetoric, the country may face even more incidents of targeted violence. “Words matter,” Wackrow said. “When public figures use language that dehumanizes opponents, it creates permission structures for extremists to act.”

For many Americans, the death of Charlie Kirk has become a flashpoint — a symbol of how polarized the nation has become and how quickly online vitriol can spill into real-world bloodshed. Whether the response will be a push for greater unity or further division remains to be seen.