But, we also don't have to ignore the fact that Kirk made a career out of peddling hate and misinformation. Two things can be true at the same time. And sometimes staying silent rather than contributing to the nonsense out there is the best response.

Be careful with the information you're taking in and passing along. What happened to Kirk is terrible. No one should be killed for talking about their political beliefs. A death shouldn't be celebrated.

I'd argue a bigger part of this contagion is social media. Everyone feels pressured to have a take on everything. Even when they are completely ignorant of the topic. Sometimes silence is OK. Reliable information is hard to come by on social media these days.

Stop pointing blame and instead reflect on how we ended up with a young guy in his early 20s so fed up with our messed up system that the only solution he came up with involved the use of a gun.

Now there is blame being shifted to his university educators and their "liberal indoctrination." He was enrolled for a semester. That's it. And more importantly, college educators do not "indoctrinate" anyone.

Part of the contagion is due to the escalation of rhetoric - the name calling, the quickness to point blame, never taking accountability for anything. The past few days have seen blame pointed at those on the left. Turns out the shooter is not a leftist.

Before this we saw the killing of United Health's CEO, an assassination attempt on Trump, a plot to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer, Paul Pelosi attacked in his home with a hammer, and a violent mob attack the White House on Jan. 6, 2021. It has only increased - it is contagious.