On the Charlie Kirk Assassination

American hatred of conservatives ramps up

by Bill Muehlenberg

“He was only 31.” So said a friend who called me early this morning to tell me the horrible news. The young, brave conservative commentator and head of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) was assassinated today at a college campus. It happened  early Wednesday afternoon (American time) at yet another rally at a university campus – this time Utah Valley University.

Speaking to a crowd of 3000, Kirk was shot in the neck while on stage and was pronounced dead at the hospital. It seems it was done by a high-powered rifle. He left behind a wife and two young children. One suspect is being held in the shooting, and there is an ongoing crime scene investigation.

The brilliant conservative activist was hugely popular and had a huge influrnce on American political and social life. It is true that TPUSA had a real impact on last year’s American presidential election, helping to bring so many young people into the Trump campaign.

He loved debating one and all, taking on leftists and hate-filled opponents. Kirk was also a born-again Christian who loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and he was happy to debate hard-core secularists and angry atheists. So he was a modern-day evangelist and truth-teller.

One write-up about him said this:

Kirk grew up in the northern Chicago suburbs and got his start in politics while in high school as a volunteer for the 2010 campaign of former Republican Sen. Mark Kirk (no relation). In 2012, as a high school senior, he got national attention for warning about liberal bias in high school economics textbooks. He was outspoken about dropping out of college to pursue political activism.

At just 18 years old, Kirk, along with Bill Montgomery, co-founded Turning Point USA, best known for promoting conservative causes on college campuses. In the 13 years since its founding, Turning Point USA has become one of the most prominent and influential conservative groups in the nation, holding several massive events throughout the year which have drawn big-name speakers, including President Donald Trump.

His other organization, Turning Point Action, played a pivotal role in boosting Republican turnout across the country, most recently in Trump’s 2024 election victory. https://www.foxnews.com/media/charlie-kirk-rising-star-conservative-movement-ahead-horrific-utah-valley-university-shooting

 

President Trump who was himself the victim of political assassination attempts said this about Kirk:

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”

Many other tributes are pouring in. Adam Rubenstein had this headline for a August 2018 cover story he wrote about Kirk for The Weekly Standard: “Kid Trump”. Such was his impact even back then as a 24year old.en shot at and even assassinated. Somehow it was within the realms of the possible, no matter how awful.

Konstantin Kisin said this:

I hope I’m wrong. But tonight feels like some sort of invisible line has been crossed that we didn’t even know was there.  The last time I felt like this was 9/11 when it was clear, without knowing the how and the what, that the world was about to change forever. Like the rules of the game had been permanently altered and there was simply no going to back to the innocent, peaceful past.

I didn’t feel like this when an attempt was made on President Trump’s life. If I had to rationalise why I didn’t, I guess it’s because several US Presidents have been shot at and even assassinated. Somehow it was within the realms of the possible, no matter how awful.

But to murder a young father simply for doing debates and mobilising young people to vote for a party that represents half of America? This is something else.

Charlie’s death is a tragedy for his wife, his children and his family. I don’t pray often. I am praying for them tonight. But I fear his murder will be a tragedy for all of us in ways we will only understand as time unfolds. I hope I’m wrong. I fear I’m not.

 

This is an ongoing story, so updates will be added along the way.

Please keep Kirk’s wife and children in your prayers. And pray for America where the divide between Christian conservatism and secular leftism is getting greater, and where far too often the main way the angry left deals with those with different ideas is with hate and sometimes by committing violence – even murder – against their opponents.

Updates

-There are already many online posts from devilish people who are jubilant about Kirk’s assassination and are celebrating his murder. That tells you everything we need to know about so many of those in the secular left.

-Kirk enraged the radical left because he was a happy Christian with a wonderful family, and he dealt with his intellectual and ideological opponents with facts and good cheer. He invited his most ardent detractors to come and debate him. His mastery of the facts and his debating skills meant he constantly was getting the best of his countless debating partners. No wonder so my leftists hated him so much.

First published on Culturewatch

Bill Muehlenberg is a long-standing family campaigner who has previously worked for groups such as the Australian Family Association and Focus on the Family Australia. He is widely sought out by the media for comments on family and social issues. He is the author of several books, and currently runs CultureWatch, a pro-family website. Originally from the US, he is now based in Melbourne, Australia.