In the United States, frequent reports about the latest school shooting, random acts of violence and even presidential assassination attempts have become disturbingly common. Many Americans now remain unfazed by the political uprisings that have overtaken their everyday lives. While some see this violence as a pressing issue, others continue to trust in the Second Amendment, believe in its necessity for societal safety and refuse to examine its possible negative consequences. The differences caused by the growing resentment between those on opposing political grounds continues to escalate. As Americans come together to observe the brutality of Charlie Kirk’s death, it is apparent that changes must be implemented within the country to restore peace.
“We are in a time now where this country is more divided than ever and people are getting frustrated with the systems that are in place. Even though I do not believe violence is ever the answer, the death of Charlie Kirk specifically shows that we need something to change. If not, even more separation and animosity will grow between the two parties,” senior Cesar Romero said.
In the last few years, Charlie Kirk had grown his platform as a far right political activist. After the election was won by Donald Trump in 2016, Kirk started his own podcast, naming it the “The Charlie Kirk Show.” Through this platform he was able to voice his conservative views, touching on topics like abortion, gun control and women’s rights. He also frequently appeared on news stations to discuss political issues, specifically on Fox News.
In a further effort to make his conservative voice heard, Kirk chose to start focusing on speaking to younger people and college students. Believing that young people would be influenced mostly by liberal or progressive ideas in education, he wanted to give them a new perspective. In 2025 Kirk started a new campaign and set out for Texas A&M University and Florida State University to continue spreading his conservative message. His following stop, Utah Valley University, would be no different. He would give students there the opportunity to challenge his views and then defend a more conservative ideology, just as he had done before.
“Freedom of speech should be for everybody. You should not be restricted from your freedom of speech simply because of your political party. Charlie Kirk may have said many controversial things, but he never intended to hurt anyone directly. Because of this, I do not believe that he should have been killed for sharing his views, as it is one of our human rights. People have become much too divided in this day and age,” senior Dariel De Leon said.
Unfortunately for Kirk, his event at Utah Valley University ended with his death. Despite the efforts of campus security to protect Kirk, a fatal shot was fired from a rooftop multiple buildings away, making Kirk perfectly in line with the sniper. When officials aimed to discover the motive for this killing, prosecutors uncovered incriminating texts and evidence from a man named Tyler Robinson.
As social media users currently continue to debate the death of Kirk, more controversy has emerged since his death. Although Kirk did not deserve to die, he could have been more cautious when sharing his conservative views which angered many. With the way things are currently, violence is consistently brewing between political parties, as one turns to the next to allocate blame and to seek revenge. This murder was not expected, but it is certainly an indication of what Americans can expect for the future of the U.S. where unity has been replaced with political violence. Privately, Kirk’s family, including his wife and two children, now continue to mourn away from the prying eyes of the public.
In addition to Kirk’s death, Evergreen High School in Denver, Colorado, also experienced bloodshed that same day. This time three students were shot, but only the sixteen year old shooter died from a self-inflicted injury. According to officials, this teenager had developed neo-Nazi views online leading up to the shooting. Only two hours before he initiated his attack, he posted pictures of a gun and ammunition. Twenty rounds were shot before the teenager was confronted by the police and he then fatally shot himself. Yet another high school shooting has left students shaken and painfully aware of America’s continued issues with the Second Amendment, radical political views and the widespread normalization of political violence.
“Gun violence should not be something that we have to worry about in America. I find it to be unnecessary on so many levels and it has impacted the lives of so many innocent people. We definitely need stricter laws, but nobody can find an agreement to settle on. It has gotten frustrating to see how much gun violence goes on and I think it is time to implement restrictions for the public’s safety,” junior Nathaniel Woods said.
It no longer seems to matter that being a fellow American should mean something. Whether attending high school or college, the threat of violence is widespread. The recent killing of Republican podcaster Charlie Kirk and the school shooting in Colorado serve as warning signs of the potential political violence that the future holds. With no sign of peace in sight, the future of the country remains in question.
“Violence is not what our country was founded upon. The key principles of living in the U.S. are that citizens are allowed to say what they want without being persecuted for it. I believe that we need to either regulate gun control or launch a serious investigation into recent political assassination attempts on both sides, Democratic and Republican,” senior Joshua Markowitz said.
Is this what life in the U.S. has become, or is change still a possibility? Some politicians now call for getting even with those with different beliefs, while others promote trying to come together as one nation with a common problem to be solved. However, if one thing is certain, it is that change is vital. As long as life is made less valuable than guns in America, more individuals will suffer at the will of radical murderers for simply sharing their beliefs.
