I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. Taneytown and Westminster Maryland were both long term strongholds for the Klan. I have met Klansmen and witnessed a cross burning on a front lawn of a home in Hampden (a blue collar neighborhood in Baltimore). As to who are Klansmen, I would first ask what time period are we talking about and what part of the country? Historically the Klan has been made up of Democrats, but I would not go so far as to say they were leftist or progressive Democrats. There are very few actual Klansmen today and the appearance of a sheet/hood or actual Klan rally draws the media like ticks to a deer.

In my opinion, anyone who judges a person or group solely based on their race without specific evidence to support their judgment is a racist. Race is a social construct that I believe has very little actual meaning but is often used by people who are trying to exercise influence or gain power over others by emphasizing differences in people. Racial and ethnic purity are ridiculous notions and I look upon anyone who espouses beliefs in either concept of purity as being woefully ignorant of both biology and history.

To the point in the OP, the person who fired the shot: they will need to articulate that they reasonably believed that they were in fear of imminent bodily injury or death of their neighbor. Once that threshold is met, they will need to deal with the inevitable repercussions of civil justice and uncivil retribution.

Thanks for sharing. I like to focus on those things that make us Americans. Our Constitution, our history (good and bad), our vision of justice and how we can make all of these things work for the betterment of our fellow citizens and the world.

Be safe.