Conservative activist, husband and father Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10. He was killed at Utah Valley University in Orem during one of his popular campus events, where he encouraged free debate with anyone who wanted to question him.
I mourn another instance of awful political violence, stressing the fabric of our country. A man was killed for fighting for what he thought was right, and he leaves behind a wife and two young children. That should sadden us all.
America is better off as a place where people can exchange ideas freely, without fear of being killed or otherwise persecuted. Charlie understood this ideal and fought for it. If his death leads to anything, it should reinforce that feeling in us all.
Live updates: Charlie Kirk shot and killed at Utah campus event, President Donald Trump says
Charlie is one of the most influential figures in right-wing politics for my generation. At just 31 years old, he built Turning Point USA, a massive conservative activist network. Through that effort, he has registered thousands of young voters and was a key influence on the shape of campus conservatism.
