Violence and fear swept through towns in an arc around Minneapolis for more than 40 hours over the weekend as a man seemingly intent on sowing political devastation killed one Minnesota state lawmaker and left another bleeding from nine bullet wounds.

Political violence targeting elected officials demands immediate action and stronger preventive measures, according to a Texas Southern University expert analyzing the recent fatal shootings of Minnesota lawmakers.

Threats and violent acts have become part of the political landscape, still shocking but somehow not so surprising.