The threat of political violence on the left isn’t some fringe problem anymore. Increasingly, mainstream Democrats treat conservatives not as opponents, but as enemies who deserve harm. When people in positions of influence casually joke about shootings or worse, it’s not just rhetoric—it’s a warning that violence against conservatives is being normalized. And as recent events in Virginia show, this moral collapse isn’t just theoretical—it’s happening right now, in plain sight.
Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general, has found himself in hot water after text messages from 2022 surfaced showing him suggesting House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican, deserved "two bullets to the head." The disturbing messages didn't stop there.
“Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot,” Jones wrote. “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
Jones also fantasized about other violent scenarios involving Gilbert and made grotesque comments about desecrating the graves of future political opponents.
The backlash has been swift and bipartisan. Republican leaders like Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, Governor Glenn Youngkin, and even Vice President JD Vance have called for Jones to drop out, arguing these texts are disqualifying and reflect a fundamental character flaw. Even his Democratic running mate, Abigail Spanberger, who's campaigning for governor, publicly condemned the messages and stressed the need for accountability. Yet despite the universal condemnation, Jones plans to forge ahead with his campaign. That stubborn refusal to step aside tells you everything you need to know about how seriously the left takes violent rhetoric when it's directed at conservatives.
This scandal arrives at a particularly tense moment. Early voting for Virginia's November statewide elections is just weeks away, and the races for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general are heating up. Late September polling showed Jones leading Miyares by just six points, a significantly narrower margin than Spanberger's twelve point lead over Earle-Sears. The texts are sure to have an impact on the race, but it may not stop Jones from getting elected.
But here's the real issue that goes beyond one candidate's vile texts. This situation exposes a disturbing reality about how Democrats and leftists view conservatives. It's not just fringe radicals on social media calling for violence against Republicans anymore. It's supposedly mainstream Democrats, elected officials, and party nominees who clearly see their political opponents as not just wrong, but evil and therefore deserving of harm.
But, it’s actually much worse. According to Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner, “Jay Jones wished violence on the children of a colleague and joked about shooting Todd Gilbert. It’s disgusting and unbecoming of any public official.”
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When a man who could become Virginia’s top law enforcement officer casually jokes about political assassination—and even killing children—that’s more than just political disagreement. It’s alarming on a level far beyond the usual rancor of social media fringe actors. If someone seeking high state office can make these statements, it raises serious questions about how many elected Democrats, even at the federal level, might share a similar moral outlook.
This is why Democratic rhetoric that equates Republicans with fascists or Nazis is so dangerous. It’s not just a matter of overheated language potentially inspiring a lone-wolf attack—though recent politically motivated violence, including the assassination of Charlie Kirk and attacks on ICE agents and facilities, shows that threat is real. The deeper issue is moral: if your political opponents are cast as Hitler, then any action against them, even violence, can be framed as morally justified. The rhetoric doesn’t merely describe disagreement—it signals a worldview where harming conservatives is not only acceptable but righteous.
Can it get worse? You bet. Jones wrote text messages during a time when several GOP delegates were honoring a moderate Democratic lawmaker, a gesture of civility and bipartisanship that apparently caused Jones to imagine violent acts. That tells you how the modern left responds to even basic political decency when it involves Republicans. The mask slips, and underneath is a worldview that sees conservatives as subhuman obstacles to be eliminated rather than fellow citizens with different ideas.
The national conversation about political violence and incivility has never been more urgent, and Jones's texts illustrate exactly why. When political leaders casually discuss murdering their opponents, we're not talking about a breakdown in civil discourse anymore. We're talking about a fundamental rejection of basic human decency.
