In America, we believe in the rule of law, peaceful debate, and respect for our Constitution. Our Founding Fathers gave us a system where we settle disagreements with words, not violence. That is why the recent controversy surrounding Virginia Attorney General hopeful Jay Jones is not just troubling—it’s dangerous.
Jay Jones, a Democrat and former lawmaker from Norfolk, Virginia, sent text messages back in 2022 that are now public. These messages show Jones joking about killing a fellow politician. He even imagined shooting Todd Gilbert, who was Speaker of the Virginia House at the time, and made a sick joke about murdering Gilbert’s children. These weren’t just off-color remarks. They were shocking, violent fantasies coming from someone who now wants to be the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Let’s make one thing clear: this is not how elected leaders should act. And yet, top Democrats—both in Virginia and in Washington—have stayed mostly silent. They have not asked Jay Jones to drop out of the race. Instead, many are brushing it off, pretending like this is no big deal. That silence is not only cowardly, it’s dangerous for our Republic.
Democratic Governor candidate Abigail Spanberger had a chance to do the right thing. She could have called out Jones and said that this kind of rhetoric has no place in our politics. But she didn’t. Even U.S. Senators like Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, who represent Virginia, refused to stand up and demand accountability. Senator Kaine even said these remarks were “out of character” for Jones. But what kind of character imagines putting two bullets into someone’s head?
The Democrats’ refusal to speak up sends a loud message: political violence is only a problem when it comes from the other side.
Compare this to how Republicans have responded. Senator Ted Cruz called the messages “staggering.” Senator Eric Schmitt called it what it was—a call for assassination. And during a recent debate, Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears rightly asked Spanberger to demand that Jones drop out. When one side of the political aisle stands up for law and order, while the other remains silent in the face of violent threats, we should all be concerned.
This scandal comes at a time when our country is already on edge. Just recently, conservative leader Charlie Kirk was assassinated. There have also been attempts on the life of President Donald Trump. In times like these, words matter. Leaders must choose them carefully. When someone like Jay Jones makes jokes about gun violence, it adds fuel to a dangerous fire.
Now, Jones has apologized. He called his words “embarrassing and shameful.” He even said he reached out to Gilbert and his family. But apologies are not enough. Actions have consequences, especially when you want to be the top law enforcement official in your state. If Jones had any real respect for the law—or for the people of Virginia—he would step aside. But he hasn’t. And the Democratic Party hasn’t asked him to.
This is not about being Republican or Democrat. This is about right and wrong. Our country cannot survive if we allow leaders to speak violently and then look the other way. We must expect better from those who seek power. We must hold them accountable—no matter what party they belong to.
The Constitution gives us free speech, but it also gives us the right to live in peace, with leaders who protect our safety and our rights. Jay Jones has failed that test. And the Democrats who refuse to speak up have failed it, too.
The people of Virginia deserve better. And the American people deserve a politics that honors our founding values: liberty, justice, and peace under the law.
