Charlie Kirk is yet another victim of a senseless shooting by an angry gunman with hate and revenge on his mind.
He was killed while speaking to university students in Utah. When he was fatally shot, he was answering a question about mass killings.
Too many unanswered questions about the national psyche persist in this country. There’s too much hate, too many killings and too many guns in the wrong hands. Our hearts go out to Charlie Kirk’s family, friends and colleagues.
Roberta Chaleff, Tamarac
For mutual respect
Americans must follow the rule of law and not demonize those with whom they disagree.
Our Constitution and nation are based on the First Amendment, which values freedom of speech and nonviolent protest. Let us unite as Americans and have mutual respect for each other.
Lana Lysen, Pompano Beach
Assassination culture
Presidents Lincoln (1865), Garfield (1881), McKinley (1901) and Kennedy (1963) all died by an assassin’s bullet. Gerald Ford (in 1975, twice) Ronald Reagan (1981) and Donald J. Trump (2024) survived assassination attempts.
Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. were assassinated in 1968.
Now, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, has tragically died by an assassin’s bullet.
My fear is that this assassination culture is here to stay. There will always be at least one extremist who believes that death is the only answer. My hope is the shooter is caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law — with his death.
JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater
An attack on democracy
Silencing someone by murder is a direct attack on democracy. Political discourse should never include violence.
In Utah and many states, it’s legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. At a public event in 2023, ABC News reported, Charlie Kirk said: “I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year, so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”
It’s past time for us to discuss how easy it is for anyone to purchase a high-powered concealed weapon. If more checks were in place, I do not believe this crime, or many others, would have happened. I believe it’s possible to have different points of view and beliefs and still choose respect and compassion over violence and hate.
As Charlie Kirk would say: “Prove Me Wrong.”
Rosemary Blumberg, Plantation
A stain on our nation
Political violence in America is used to attack the perceived political views of the assailant.
The year 1968 was an awful year, as Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King were assassinated. George Wallace was crippled by an assassin’s bullet while running for president in 1972.
The assassination attempts on Donald Trump and the awful loss of Charlie Kirk continue the political anger within the soul of our nation. It will always be a stain on the legacy of our nation. A death from political hate is always followed by the blaming of political opponents. Those who exploit these acts to promote themselves should never be elected to any position of leadership.
Ed Horn, Delray Beach
Violence from within
Sept. 11, 2001 was a day of horror, shock, loss and death committed by terrorists from beyond our borders. This is not to minimize that atrocity, but the damage by extremists within our own borders is, in its own way, worse.
Tracy Anton, Hollywood
Will anything change?
Yet another shooting is accompanied by the familiar cries of grief and condemnation. Once more I’m reminded of the expression: “When all is said and done, a lot more will be said than done.”
Alan B. Wackerling, Plantation
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