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Not everyone who worries about immigration or Islamism is complicit in those New Zealand murders, of course, even those whose views are crudely expressed or genuinely nasty. We certainly would not say terror in the name of Allah taints every Muslim, or even every Muslim angry about history or current events. Nor that a murderous attack by an “incel” indicts everyone concerned about modern gender orthodoxy or bitter because they can’t get a date. But we are fallible beings and must be careful.

Bad guys can always get weapons. Our problem here is evil, not metal. And evil is perplexing

Even about words. For instance casual use of “terrorist.” As a technical not a moral matter, terrorism is the targeting of civilians to induce changes in government policy. When that goal is not the method behind the madness, something is not “terrorism” just because it’s despicable. Or necessarily “cowardly.” Certain types of evil take very strong nerves and we can surely be clear about what we are condemning without ceasing to condemn it.

Also, gun laws don’t matter much. New Zealand has relaxed laws, many guns and few murders; the Netherlands strict laws, few guns and few murders. But bad guys can always get weapons. Our problem here is evil, not metal. And evil is perplexing.

Anything sufficiently depraved we colloquially call “crazy.” But we don’t mean the perpetrators are not guilty by reason of insanity. (Including Hitler.) People with genuine, organic-brain-disorder madness don’t know right from wrong, can’t comprehend the consequences of their actions, and are locked up with pity not anger. But a far larger category of madness is a disorder of the soul rather than the mind, self-inflicted and therefore culpable.