“Turn down the temperature.” That was the advice offered Saturday at former President Donald Trump's campaign rally by the retired physician who had rendered aid to Buffalo Township's Corey Comperatore at the July 13th rally.

Dr. James Sweetland told the crowd at the Butler Farm Show venue that he didn't want this November's election determined by an “assassin’s bullet.”

Sweetland's comments preceded many others who took the stage as Trump returned Saturday evening to the Connoquenessing Township venue, the site of an attempted assassination just a few months ago. The July 13 shooting claimed the life of Comperatore, severely injured two others and wounded Trump's ear.

The rhetoric that followed in many speeches afterward didn’t consistently bring down the temperature, it is worth noting that the rally was sober in contrast to other campaign rallies held by Trump this election. We reported how the Republican presidential candidate started his speech memorializing Comperatore.

Also worth noting, that rhetoric is not attributable to Republicans alone. It can be seen on both sides of the aisle, especially amid this heated presidential election.

Meaningless rhetoric, name calling or simply deeming the opponent as “evil,” does not address how a candidate will or won’t represent the United States of America in any elected role.

It’s time to bring down the temperature because July 13 was a tragedy. We’ve seen some outlets call it a “near tragedy,” but here in Butler County, we don’t feel that’s an accurate description at all.

On July 13, a Butler County man died. A shot was taken at a presidential candidate. Neither should be accepted as OK by anyone, regardless of political beliefs.

Certainly, it could have been worse if the gunman wasn’t stopped when he was by a sniper, but to consider July 13 anything less than a tragedy, we feel, is inaccurate.

As Butler County continues to heal, we believe our residents can play a part in bringing down the temperature. Let’s bring the conversation back to what we value and how a respective candidate does or doesn’t embody those values. Let’s listen to each other this election season and well into the future.

We cannot afford another tragedy.

— TL