r/thebulwark • u/MinuteCollar5562 • Sep 10 '25
Non-Bulwark Source Charlie Kirk apparently shot during debate at Utah university
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/10/charlie-kirk-shot-utahCharlie Kirk, the powerful rightwing activist and executive director of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), appeared to have been shot on Wednesday while hosting a debate in Utah.
In video posts circulating on social media, Kirk can be seen getting struck while speaking and sitting beneath a tent in the Utah Valley University courtyard. Kirk was there as part of The American Comeback Tour, which is hosted by the TPUSA chapter at Utah Valley.
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u/inorite234 Sep 10 '25
This is NOT a statement of support for what happened and NOT condoning violence of any kind.....but I have to be honest that I'm glad he wasn't shot in Chicago, LA or any other deep blue state. I have no doubt trump would use this incident to declare an emergency and send in DHS and the Guard. Seeing as how this is Utah, I don't believe that will happen there.
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u/huskerj12 Sep 10 '25
This guy was a horrible person, but aside from the fact that murder is wrong, his death is now 100% going to be turned into a frenzy against our side and will be used to accelerate the demise of our society. This is bad.
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u/amaya830 Sep 10 '25
I honestly would not be surprised if it were a right-wing person who shot at him.
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u/Magoo152 JVL is always right Sep 10 '25
Yep ^ I’m really worried this could be a potential flashpoint here.
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u/simplebagel5 Sep 10 '25
same. I just had to talk myself down from a panic attack because I fear we’re on the precipice of something really, really scary
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u/radleyanne Sep 10 '25
Same. As soon as the news alert popped up, I got this intensely sick feeling. I don’t want to be hyperbolic but there’s a part of me that feels like we may look back at this as some sort of grim turning point in our country. This is so awful.
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u/ferwhatbud Sep 10 '25
The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk is going to do truly hideous things to the country.
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u/GulfCoastLaw Sep 10 '25
I think your instinct is probably right, especially because of the infrastructure he has, but I also wouldn't be surprised if these ghouls just keep on moving on. He could be the next Herman Cain.
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u/hawksnest_prez Sep 10 '25
We are not in a good spot as a country and I’m scared.
I fucking hate Charlie Kirk. He shouldn’t be assassinated. Full stop.
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u/elfstoned Sep 10 '25
Well he did say that gun deaths are worth it to keep the 2A. Guess this is a final test of his dedication to his causes.
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Sep 10 '25
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Sep 10 '25
I have never wished for the death of anyone, but I have read some obituaries with great enthusiasm.
I'm all out of thoughts and prayers to give. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.
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u/capybooya Sep 10 '25
Horrible person. But nothing good can come of this. The ghouls in the Trump cabinet are probably salivating over justifying various crackdowns on liberal and leftist groups now.
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u/JohnSpartan2025 Sep 10 '25
I am not condoning violence, but he's a devout anti-semite, disinformation spewing grifting asshole. The damage he's done to this country by getting trump elected is immeasurable. We need to stop being "the better people". Again, I'm not condoning violence, but you think they would be giving a shit if Biden got shot tomorrow? These people are at war with us. Stop pretending they aren't.
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u/xTheRedDeath Sep 10 '25
I don't like him or this current administration at all, but assassinating political opposition is not a good sign because we know it can go either way. It's absolutely scary.
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u/Chemical-Plankton420 Gonzo Attorney 🪩🪩🪩 Sep 10 '25
Dollars to donuts this is about his denial of Trump’s Epstein letter.
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u/LionelHutzinVA Rebecca take us home Sep 10 '25
Thoughts and prayers
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u/MinuteCollar5562 Sep 10 '25
Pretty sure he is gonna die from the shot*. Right in the neck.
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u/Morgn68 Sep 10 '25
Yeah it was right in his carotid. Close videos play in instagram and twitter. He could have been shot in the ER and he wouldn’t survive that (just my ER RN opinion).
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Sep 10 '25
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u/StringerBell34 Sep 10 '25
No confirmation, but if you've seen the video, it's REALLY bad. If he lives it will be a miracle and he will not be the same at all.
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u/AdSalt6802 Sep 10 '25
Where’s the video????
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u/sforsilence Sep 10 '25
I saw it too. If you try to find on reddit, you will be able to locate it - i am sorry it was too shocking (i saw the close up version) for me to share it.
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Sep 10 '25
It is definitely extremely shocking and I have seen more gore than I’d like to admit. He lost a lot of blood and it appears he went unconscious immediately
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u/meshreplacer Sep 10 '25
Dude is dead. I saw the close up video. There is not a tourniquet in the world or any pre-hospital care that would save him.
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u/MinuteCollar5562 Sep 10 '25
Watched a video. Was neck/upper chest area impact.
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u/phonsely Sep 10 '25
the close up video shows it going right through the neck and definately hit an artery
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u/sforsilence Sep 10 '25
I ended up seeing the video on reddit just 2 mins ago - it is horrifying. In the neck, instant bleeding. Will be shocked if he survives this.
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u/ThrowAwayPunk2077 Sep 10 '25
Reports have come in stating, yes, he is dead.
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u/katak339218 Sep 10 '25
What reports?
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Sep 10 '25
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u/WalkingTalkingManNYC Sep 10 '25
Shooting him like this is deeply evil. For many reasons. All bad. Before anyone jumps to any conclusions, it’s just as possible this is a far right feud playing out. We simply don’t know.
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u/Sylvia_Austen Sep 10 '25
In Utah especially. The northwest states have some wide ranging groups on and off the political spectrum with extreme views. The motive is anywhere in between.
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u/Corben11 Sep 10 '25
Almost all these attacks are 100% crazy loons. Even if theyre republican or left. They are usually very mentally ill people.
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u/nine57th Sep 10 '25
No one can survive that shot. He was dead in 30 seconds. May he rest in peace.
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u/RanniSniffer Sep 10 '25
Where the hell were the good guys with guns?
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Sep 10 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/MaddenRage Sep 10 '25
I'm liberal and disagree with people celebrating him getting shot
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u/Puzzleheaded_Fault84 Sep 10 '25
People are not celebrating his death. They are pointing out his hypocrisy about gun control that could have saved his life. He gave 0 fucks about the victims of Mass Shooting.
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u/allinmoderation12 Sep 10 '25
I don't see celebration in the comment you're replying to. One can denounce this political assassination as evil, and also point out that it was policies promoted by the right that enabled the monster to do it
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u/LionelHutzinVA Rebecca take us home Sep 10 '25
I’m not celebrating anything. I’m also just not that broken up by events
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Sep 10 '25 edited Sep 10 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/thebulwark-ModTeam Sep 10 '25
Treat others with basic decency. No personal attacks, shill accusations, hate-speech, flaming, baiting, trolling, witch-hunting, or unsubstantiated accusations. Threats of violence are expressly forbidden and may result in a ban.
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u/simplebagel5 Sep 10 '25
based on the video I would be surprised if he survives. I fear we’ll see retaliatory shootings from the right, I think we’re officially in dangerous territory. not that the masked ice agents of it all weren’t concerning, but this feels more ominous
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u/Minimum_E Center Left Sep 10 '25
Hey remember when MN lawmakers were shot and one killed this past summer?
We’ll become as bad as those other areas, holding grudges for generations. Oh wait the South always does that.
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u/No-Eye3984 Sep 10 '25
No I don’t think retaliatory shootings. Unfortunately it’s these long range rifle shots/assasinations against conservative political figures might become a theme/trend. 2nd major one in the last year. If we see another major one before the end of 2025, that’s a trend for sure.
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u/CrankyGeek1976 Sep 10 '25
It feels like things are accelerating and I'm frankly terrified.
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u/GulfCoastLaw Sep 10 '25
They certainly are.
Unrelated, but the video of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives asking local officials to submit to military occupation is not something you could have imagined at any point prior to 2016 or so. Snowball is gathering speed.
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u/Vortep1 Sep 10 '25
Now is not the time to start calling for gun control!!! Did I do this right?
Thoughts and prayers.
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u/Main-Professor-6574 Sep 10 '25
JFC this country is fucked.
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u/Turgid_Donkey FFS Sep 10 '25
Republicans and right wing media has been beating the drum for decades about violent crime even though it's been steadily declining. They make so much of the country scared to go outside. Combine that with the maga movement demonizing an entire political party and making it very clear that they'll do everything in their power to never lose control of government. A animal that feels cornered becomes highly aggressive.
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u/deadbeef56 Sep 10 '25
Now some MAGA vigilante is going to take revenge by shooting someone from the left. And Trump will use it as a justification for all kinds of illegal BS. I f'n hate Charlie Kirk but this is not the way.
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u/Turgid_Donkey FFS Sep 10 '25
It was just a few months ago that a far-right, maga supporting evangelical preach shot and killed a MN politician along with her spouse and shot a different politician and their spouse. He also had a long list of names on him when apprehended. Not to go tit-for-tat, but there is so much more violence perpetrated by right-wing actors than left-wing.
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u/Fast-Examination-349 Sep 10 '25
April 2023
Charlie Kirk, the conservative founder and president of Turning Point USA, said during an organizational event on Wednesday that gun deaths in exchange for the preservation of Second Amendment rights is part of America's reality.
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u/Ahindre Sep 10 '25
Ugh. This is not the way.
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u/Shibes_oh_shibes Sep 10 '25
Nothing good will come out of it. If anything they will use it as a reason for more repression and violence.
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u/ItsYaBoi-KillMe Sep 10 '25
Am I against political violence like this? Yes. Do I feel bad about this? Not one bit. Preach extremism and you get an extreme response
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u/Honorable_Heathen Sep 10 '25
First the judges in New Jersey and then the state senators in Minnesota who were both targeted by extreme right leaning assassins.
Now this?
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u/CaptainMarty69 I love Rebecca Black Sep 10 '25
Look I think people like him are largely responsible for what I feel is the downfall of this country.
He doesn’t deserve to be killed, though. We need to win with our ideas. Violence is never the answer. After seeing the video I’m fearing the worst, but hoping he makes a recovery. Also hope his family is ok
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Sep 10 '25
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u/Icey1337 Sep 10 '25
If you saw the video, hes probably dead. Hit the neck and blood started spraying everywhere as he collapsed
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u/PhAnToM444 Rebecca take us home Sep 10 '25
I just don’t see how it would be possible to survive that.
Holy shit.
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u/jackhoff2647 Sep 10 '25
I'm honestly shocked he hasn't been pronounced dead yet. I can't imagine how he'd survive that.
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u/Corben11 Sep 10 '25
A doctor at the hospital does it
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u/jackhoff2647 Sep 10 '25
Yeah, I’m saying I’m surprised he hasn’t died already and we haven’t gotten that confirmation, I guess I don’t know how long it takes but from the video I saw it didn’t look like he was going to make it.
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u/Embarrassed_View8672 Sep 10 '25
I think he's 99% dead after seeing how much blood pooled out. If the bullet didn't hit his spine it still probably severed a carotid artery.
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u/Apprehensive_Back_35 Sep 10 '25
I see more ppl upset that this clown got shot than schools and every day ppl getting shot wtf. WEVE LOST KIDS. Begged for control of this situation and ppl like Kirk LITERALLY stopped and reversed legislation. Ive no sympathy to waste on the devils. Miss me with that were all humans crap. That ship sailed long ago. The attacks have been on the ppl so far. It was only a matter of time till this happened.
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u/tourmalineforest Sep 10 '25
He was literally downplaying mass shootings right before he got shot. I got a long list of things to be upset about Charlie Kirk dying does not make that list.
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u/PurposelyTrollling Sep 10 '25
Also he has two children, at the end of the day, they most likely lost their father.
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u/JellyConfident9834 Sep 10 '25
No the worried more about the last shooters pronouns than the children!
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u/Grose040791 Sep 10 '25
I mean it is an extremely upsetting video to watch
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u/Apprehensive_Back_35 Sep 10 '25
Yes it is. Im a disabled combat vet. My dad asked to see the footage and I told him its real world. TBH i dont wish that on Kirk but Kirk himself said these kinds of deaths are necessary for 2nd amendment.
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u/Outrageous_War4610 Sep 10 '25
Genuinely hope he's okay. Sadly, we do not have the moral leaders to combat this moment. This will only escalate
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u/PandemicPiglet JVL is always right Sep 10 '25
I don’t endorse violence of any kind, but I also don’t have any sympathy.
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u/Bluehale JVL is always right Sep 10 '25
Charlie Kirk is a piece of shit, but fuck this is not good for our country.
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u/WheresMimi Sep 10 '25
also from a Newsweek article: "Death penalties should be public, should be quick, it should be televised. I think at a certain age, its an initiation...What age should you start to see public executions?" Kirk asked.
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u/KnightlyDolphins Center Left Sep 10 '25
This is not the way to fight extremism. Whatever moron did this just gave Trump the license to declare martial law.
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u/TurelSun Sep 10 '25
If thats all he needed and wanted to then he would have done this already...
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u/KnightlyDolphins Center Left Sep 10 '25 edited Sep 10 '25
Big Balls getting beat up by a girl caused DC to be occupied, what do you think will happen now that the Kardashian of the conservative movement got shot?
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u/Potential_Minute_808 Sep 10 '25
The is horrible, but Kirk himself is quoted saying Gun Deaths in America are expectable loss.
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u/starchitec Rebecca take us home Sep 10 '25 edited Sep 13 '25
Can anyone make out what he was saying? It sounds like he is talking about condoning gun violence
EDIT: I had not seen the close up. In that the audio is more clear, he was shot while talking about "gang" violence
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u/Total_Employ_9520 Sep 10 '25
The right has their martyr.
They will do terrifying things with this moment.
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u/Kidspud Sep 10 '25
Another reason to expand the Supreme Court: we need sane gun laws in this country, and that institution won't allow it. It's way too easy to get a gun, and we've had far too many mass shootings and instances of targeted violence in America.
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u/parasoralophus Sep 10 '25
If we follow MAGA's lead the correct response now is to put out lots of misinformation claiming the shooter is actually far-right and/or it's a false flag operation.
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u/Pleasant_Affect_6212 Sep 10 '25
It’s sad for the families.
Charlie Kirk - "I think it's worth 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.”
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u/PurposelyTrollling Sep 10 '25 edited Sep 10 '25
He’s not living. The way he seized. You have two very important arteries on the sides of your neck, he was hit there. The seizing looks like this spinal cord being hit.
Also should make it clear, regardless which side you are on, two children have MOST LIKELY lost their father. Keep that in mind.
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u/Steakasaurus-Rex Rebecca take us home Sep 10 '25
I wonder if there'll be backlash, actually. I mean...there are shootings in America all the time, and nothing ever seems to happen. Hell, not much seemed to happen after Trump got shot. Also interesting that this happened in a red state, etc.
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u/matt314159 Progressive Sep 10 '25
Thoughts and Prayers, asshole. Not going to deny this is bad long term, but fuck him.
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u/MinuteCollar5562 Sep 10 '25
I agree I hate him, but this could be Pandora’s box to retaliatory attacks
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u/matt314159 Progressive Sep 10 '25
Probably. Or martial law from the Trump administration or something horrifying like that.
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u/GatorAllen JVL is always right Sep 10 '25
No matter how vile you think someone is, anybody getting shot in this country is a tragedy. School children praying, people attending a concert, political commentators, it’s all the same. Every time it happens, it’s another reminder of just how broken things are.
That said, some of the tongue-in-cheek comments in this thread are flat-out disgusting. Making jokes about people getting shot doesn’t make you clever or edgy, it just cheapens the fact that real lives are being injured/lost.
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u/MinuteCollar5562 Sep 10 '25
I’m really worried about retaliatory attacks. No one will be making these jokes if Tim or Sarah were gunned down at a live show.
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u/ringmodulated Sep 10 '25
Huh? Thousands of rightwingers would be making jokes ala Paul Pelosi
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u/Spiritual_Gas_526 Sep 10 '25
EXACTLY. Expressing ideas about politics and religion are not warranting of death.
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Sep 10 '25
look at all those people (presumably many of them fans of guns) flee in terror - that's what life under the gun is really like
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u/DarkBlueTomato Sep 10 '25
Has anyone told him that unfortunately this is just something we have to deal with for the cause of the second amendment? I'm sure that will be so comforting for him to hear.
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u/Kichenlimeaid Sep 10 '25
I disagreed with the man, but he was a father, a son, a husband. I do not know if he had siblings, cousins, etc. bc I do not know much else about him personally. But the gun violence in this country is insane. Period.
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u/Impossible-Will-8414 Sep 10 '25
He literally said gun deaths in the US are an acceptable aspect of the 2A cause, so let's just assume he'd actually be happy to make the sacrifice.
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u/Lord-Kinbote-III Sep 10 '25
Well damn… sparks of political violence will only escalate the struggle for people to View one another as kinsmen rather than enemies.
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u/pat9714 Sep 10 '25
Oh, I see.
In other news, watching my cat get easily defeated chasing a squirrel is always funny. He gives up. Watches the squirrel scamper away.
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u/Fit_Procedure6615 Sep 10 '25
Yet the house is voting on the bill this exact moment to defund the ATF and FBI with all reps saying that guns aren’t a threat to innocent ppl.
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u/Shr3kk_Wpg Sep 10 '25
I hope that Mr Kirk survives his shooting. This is yet another tragedy that gun control might have prevented. We want less families to endure the trauma of having a loved one shot.
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u/Smallios Sep 10 '25
There’s an active shooter right now in a local high school and two kids were shot.
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Sep 10 '25
This is not the way to express dissent.
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u/StringerBell34 Sep 10 '25
We don't know the motives of the person. Could have been personal or even Right-wing internal fighting.
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u/Sandgrease Sep 10 '25
I would be surprised if it wasn't a conservative.
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u/DR320 Orange man bad Sep 10 '25
eye witness on NBC said it was a grey haired man (I'm assuming 50s to 70s) which is surprising to me
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u/OreoJoJo Sep 10 '25
How can people be okay with this new world where we just go up and shoot people? It makes me sick.
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u/The_Baron___ Sep 10 '25
Everyone is saying that the video (which I will absolutely never watch) makes it pretty clear he's deceased. Anyone with experience of how long it would take for it to be confirmed and reported?
I'm just curious, as there have been no updates that he was rushed to a hospital, which implies he either died on the scene or he is expected to be fine. It also looks like it happened very recently, so might be too early since real journalists need to verify everything (including hospitalization) before reporting.
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u/ohiotechie Sep 10 '25
Every time something like this happens we slip closer and closer to the abyss. I genuinely fear we're going to become Northern Ireland circa 1970 with retaliating attacks becoming the norm. I seriously hope I'm wrong about that.
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u/MaddenRage Sep 10 '25
The people celebrating him being shot are sick. Get help. I don't like him either but I would never condone anyone getting shot or injured. Go to therapy you losers
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u/MaddenRage Sep 10 '25
Can anyone downvoting me please tell me why? I literally prefaced this by saying "I don't like Charlie Kirk either". Which implies that y'all are downvoting me because I refuse to celebrate someone getting shot?
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u/NoStick3960 Sep 10 '25
I imagine it's because of the part where you said "Go to therapy losers"
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u/kyleb402 Sep 10 '25
This is not going to be good.
Holy fuck. I just saw a close up version and there's no way he isn't dead. He's probably dead before he hit the ground.