A Cato Institute report has shed light on the disturbing reality of politically motivated killings in the United States over the past five decades. The data paints a complex picture, challenging common narratives and revealing the need for a nuanced understanding of this critical issue.
A Troubling Trend, with Nuance
The report, titled "Politically Motivated Violence is Rare in the United States," analyzed over 3,500 murders committed in terrorist attacks on US soil from 1975 to 2025. What this really means is that while such violence remains extremely rare, it has not disappeared entirely - and the motivations behind it are more diverse than often portrayed.
According to the data, Islamist extremists are responsible for the vast majority (87%) of these murders, with right-wing terrorists accounting for 11% and left-wing extremists just 2%. NPR recently reported on the complexities of measuring the rise of left-wing terrorism, noting that the issue is more nuanced than simple partisan finger-pointing.
Putting the Numbers in Perspective
While every single one of these killings is a tragedy, the bigger picture here is that politically motivated murders make up a vanishingly small fraction of the overall homicide rate in the US. Cato's Alex Nowrasteh writes that these attacks account for just 0.35% of all murders since 1975, or 7 out of every 10,000 killings.
This underscores how rare such violence truly is, even as the problem persists. And as The Atlantic reported, left-wing terrorism has seen a resurgence in recent years, though it remains far less common than right-wing extremism.
A Call for Nuance and Unity
The data shows that politically motivated violence comes from across the ideological spectrum. While certain groups may seek to place blame solely on their opponents, the reality is more complex. The best path forward is to approach this issue with nuance, empathy and a commitment to addressing the root causes that drive anyone down the dark path of terrorism, regardless of their political leanings.
Only then can we hope to truly honor the memory of the victims and prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.