The term "workplace violence" is often misunderstood, but it is understandable why it is generally despised, says former federal prosecutor John Irving.
"Workplace violence isn't a crime; it's a category of crimes and a statistic that's tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics," Irving told J.D. Hayworth and Olga Villaverde on "America's Forum" on
Newsmax TV Wednesday.
Story continues below video.
Note: Watch Newsmax TV now on DIRECTV Ch. 349 and DISH Ch. 223
Get Newsmax TV on your cable system — Click Here Now
The FBI has said that it is calling the Oklahoma beheading that allegedly took place at the hands of Alton Nolen "workplace violence," a term that is decried by many.
"It's a category that includes the state level crime of murder in the first degree, which is what Mr. Nolen is currently charged with," he explained.
"There's an understandable dislike for the term 'workplace violence' because it tends to minimize the horror of the offense," Irving explained.
"It also tends to minimize the motive for an offense where the motive might be something that people severely dislike, for example, hate crimes or crimes that are motivated by radical religious beliefs," he said.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.