At Vance rally, Ohio state Sen. George Lang played to fears of civil war. It's a disgrace.

Amelia Robinson is the Columbus Dispatch's opinion editor.

The term "civil war" is spilling too easily out of the mouths of Americans who should know the power of such hot words.

Ohio state Sen. George Lang, R-West Chester in Butler County, is the latest to nonchalantly utter the phrase and he did it before a hyped-up audience.

“Donald Trump and Butler County's JD Vance are the last chance to save our country politically. I’m afraid if we lose this one, it’s going to take a civil war to save the country. And it will be saved,” Lang predicted Monday at Vance's first solo rally in his hometown of Middletown.

Then he chanted, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The call to "fight, fight, fight" is common in American politics but predictions of civil war in this hot political climate are wrong, frightening and a betrayal of our history.

Lang thankfully apologized for the comments, but that does not negate the issue with him saying them so easily and to the delight of far too many. Free and fair elections are key to the survival of the republic.

Talk of civil war over an election defeat goes beyond being a sore loser in advance. It's despicable and rejects voters' rights.

Ohio Sen. George Lang apologizes for 'divisive' civil war comment made at JD Vance rally

Lesson of Trump shooting lost

The blood is barely dry in the Pennsylvania field where former President Donald Trump was shot, and a rally attendee was killed a little more than week ago.

If nothing else, Trump's near assassination should have taught us that political rhetoric is dangerous and can lead to political violence. This is something both sides should agree on.

A bullet came less than one-quarter of an inch from entering the former president's head, according to a memo from Rep. Ronny Jackson, Trump's prior White House physician.

Civil war on America's mind

The terms “Civil War 2” and “American Civil War” spiked on Google the day Trump was shot, a clear indication that Americans are concerned.

At the Heritage Foundation's "Policy Fest" held during the Republican convention, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, a Columbus-area businessman, says U.S. could have had a civil war if Trump were killed.

No freedom-loving American should want a civil war.

The effects of the last one are still being felt as we struggle to reconcile the sins of slavery and discrimination.

An estimated, 620,000 lives were lost in the American Civil War.

Lang and others have a right to express their opinions but would better serve democracy if they do so in ways that heal. No good can come out pouring fuel on the flame burning right under the surface.

Amelia Robinson is the Columbus Dispatch's opinion editor.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: George Lang's civil war prediction at JD Vance rally betrays history