Thoughts On The Charlie Kirk Assassination

This past Wednesday was tough. I was at work when my wife let me know Charlie Kirk had been shot. Having seen Kirk’s prior Turning Point events at universities, as well as prior interviews and lectures on video, I had grown to admire him. At a very young age, Kirk had started a national movement of young people in university to consider following Christian values.

Acceptance of violence from progressives over ideological disagreement and conservative speech has become an existential danger

I knew of several “counter-cultural” (conservative versus progressive in university) and understood the incredible influence Kirk had on the young. I then saw the horrendous video of the bullet striking Kirk in the neck, and blood gushing out as he went down in front of his wife, children and parent. He was quickly pronounced dead. Thousands of liberals then began gloating and voicing their hatred of Kirk and his Christian conservative ideology. Some even posted lists of other conservatives they wanted assassinated. These reactions shocked many of us. The whole episode was upsetting and caused me to reflect deeply.

First, the acceptance of violence from progressives over ideological disagreement and conservative speech has become an existential danger. In roughly the past year we’ve seen Luigi Mangione murder a corporate executive (father/husband) and instantly became a hero to many on the left who justified murder. We’ve seen two Presidential assassination attempts against Trump after four decades of none. The initial result after the Butler shooting was of Democrats admitting their rhetoric against Republicans crossed the line. A couple of days later they doubled down on it. We’ve seen liberals firebombing Tesla EVs nationwide to cheers of the left. We saw a young Israeli Embassy couple murdered by a pro-Palestinian and little condemnation. Before he was killed, Kirk spoke about a recent survey showing 48% of left leaning respondents believed murdering Elon Musk could be justified, while 55% believed murdering Donald Trump was justified. (Fox News, Sept 11, 2025)

The left’s growing acceptance of violence over ideas they don’t like must be exposed and countered with truth

The left’s growing acceptance of violence over ideas they don’t like must be exposed and countered with truth. We can all acknowledge the right has remained peaceful after the shooting, in contrast to the rioting from the left we always see after these kinds of tragedies.

Beginning around a decade ago, the left began to equate conservative speech with “violence”, thereby giving a misguided justification of using violence to stop conservative speech. In an op-ed published July 14, 2017 (NY Times), liberal psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett argued that alleged stress of certain speech can cause damage to someone, and a pattern of alleged abusive speech is “a culture of constant, casual brutality”. (JStor Daily, Aug. 30, 2017)

From that period, the constant refrain of “speech is violence” became ubiquitous among those justifying the violence brought against conservative speakers. Initially, the violence was non-lethal requiring conservative speakers to hire close-in security. In several documented cases, colleges cancelled conservative speaking events due to the danger of violence from the left. In recent years, death threats became common against conservative speakers. Finally, the Kirk assassination by a killer who had bathed in the slanderous rhetoric of Kirk being an alleged “Fascist” (his bullet casings included “catch this, Fascist”). The alleged killer had a transsexual partner, and this seems to have played into motivations as transsexuality has in many recent mass shootings. We as a nation can no longer allow equating speech with violence. Speech is to be countered by speech, which is what Kirk invited during his debates and events.

The greater source of my anger comes from watching the gloating comments

Finally, as a Christian I am torn. My anger is palpable for several reasons. Charlie Kirk was not hateful, racist, misogynist, by the left’s baseless accusations, but a sincere Christian who showed love to many who came to debate him. I saw a clip of small older liberal man challenge Kirk to a fight. Kirk is 6’5 and could have beaten the guy to a pulp, yet did not engage despite being called a coward by the man. Kirk claimed he wanted to engage in debate to prevent the violence that comes without dialogue. His death was tragic and unnecessary. It was also an attack on all conservatives wishing to voice their opinions in the public square, as I do with my articles and speeches.

The greater source of my anger comes from watching the gloating comments from so many on the left this sick killing in front of Kirk’s family. Cheerful death songs, T-shirts of Kirk with a hole in his neck made within days. Gloating comments and wishes for more assassinations of conservatives. Despite all this, I remember Christianity demands we don’t react in kind but seek prayer and Scripture as Kirk did throughout his young life. We are to rest in knowing that revenge is the Lord’s, and that we are not to live with bitterness and hatred. On the other hand, we are to defend ourselves and others. We are also to speak God’s truth, including on subjects like sexuality and gender, regardless of who may be offended.

Last thought: What was meant for evil purposes God is using for good. After Kirk’s death Christian themed videos of Kirk have been played by millions around the world and many are coming to saving faith in Jesus. Erika Kirk, Charlie’s wife, quickly posted scripture right after his death:  

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”-- Psalm 46:1

May that verse change the hearts of millions and bring a revival we so desperately need.