Threats against members of Congress have multiplied since the year Donald Trump became President of the United States.
They are a reflection of the friend-foe mentality that has been poisoning American society ever since.
Nancy Pelosi, as the figurehead of the Democrats, has been one of the most hated politicians in the United States for years.
The former president played a major role in this: Donald Trump likes to call Pelosi “Crazy Nancy”, radical Republicans second him.
They don't raise a hammer like the assassin who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband, they don't storm parliament in Washington either, they let others do that.
But the verbal arsonists are just as guilty - if not more so.
missed opportunity
The attack on Paul Pelosi caused horror, but as with the storming of the Capitol, the one man who should have been silent initially remained silent: Donald Trump.
Another missed opportunity to de-escalate, but instead the fatal message is: political violence is not unreservedly condemnable, after all the government is not lawfully in office.
So close to the midterm elections, that's another scary sign.
Pelosi's husband is expected to make a full recovery from the attack.
But at some point someone isn't that lucky anymore.
It's only a matter of time.