The shot that grazed Donald Trump’s ear is just another reminder of how the United States, unique among the dominant English-speaking countries, remains subject to both actual violence and threats of violence. Over the past two centuries, four American presidents have been killed, and there have been numerous attempts, most recently on Ronald Reagan.

In contrast, only one British prime minister has been assassinated. Not a single Canadian or Australian leader has been killed, although one Aussie prime minister, Harold Holt, disappeared in 1967; many think he drowned in a swimming accident, although some also see political conspiracies. Political violence, of course, occurs in all these countries, but not anything like what we see in the United States.