Shots fired on my campus today. Charlie Kirk TPUSA leader dead

[Calm]

Deleted post because even if the purpose wasn’t political, it discussed comments by Kirk and another from a political debate.  

Edited September 14, 2025 by Calm

[bluebell]

Lots of strong emotions in this thread, with good reason.  But I’m questioning the usefulness of leading with anger and polarization. It feels like that’s how we got here in the first place.

We are in a unique situation on this board, in that many of us have “known” each other for years. I feel like if anyone has a chance to take the off ramp away from anger and accusations, it’s this group of people.

Is there a way for us to discuss to understand rather to prove we are right?  Is there usefulness in trying?

[longview]

South Koreans and other nations appreciate how gracious Kirk is. The world understands that wokism tactic is to resort to extreme name-calling when the LEFT lose the debate.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2025/09/13/we-are-charlie-kirk-south-koreans-take-to-the-streets-in-global-show-of-support-n2663301

[Nemesis]

Everyone let’s just tone down the political rhetoric. 

[Tacenda]

12 minutes ago, Nemesis said:

Everyone let’s just tone down the political rhetoric. 

Okay, I'm for that, and I'm not all innocent on this. Thanks Nemesis, for your great patience.

[rodheadlee]

I think it would do a lot of good for people to read Matthew 5:43 through 48. I would cut and paste it but I have a hard time doing that on my phone. If someone wanted to do that for me I would appreciate it.

Edited September 14, 2025 by rodheadlee

[Raingirl]

7 minutes ago, rodheadlee said:

I think it would do a lot of good for people to read Matthew 5:43 through 48. I would cut and paste it but I have a hard time doing that on my phone. If someone wanted to do that for me I would appreciate it.

⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

⁴⁶ For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

⁴⁷ And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

⁴⁸ Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

[Kenngo1969]

For whatever this is worth at this point, see the below.  I'll hasten to add that I'm not defending everything Charlie Kirk ever said, about any topic whatsoever or about any particular topic.  And I'm not suggesting the misrepresentation mentioned below had anything to do with his death.  That said,  while it's easy for us to get our dander up about these sorts of things, as the old saying goes, "A lie jumps out of bed and makes it halfway around the world before the truth can even get its pants on."

Quote

Author Stephen King has repeatedly [sic; reportedly?] apologized for a post in which he made the false claim that slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk had said gay people should be stoned to death.

Source: Jennifer Graham (September 12, 2025) "What Stephen King said about Charlie Kirk that caused him [King] to apologize," Deseret News, Stephen King apology: What the author said about Charlie Kirk – Deseret News.

 

[gopher]

Have you seen the reports of the people who are being fired or disciplined for celebrating the death of Kirk?  I disagree that they should have been fired, but why is it so difficult to be decent people?  It's sad the number of school teachers included in the group.  I've read hundreds and hundreds of comments over the past few days that caused me to lose even more hope in humanity.

If the latest news is true that the killer was in a relationship with his roommate who is transitioning from male to female, I fear that will further incite the Kirk supporters who were looking for a transgender motive for the killing.  The narrative that the killer was far right is starting to disappear.

I don't have any answers.  I don't think each side constantly lecturing and condemning the other side is working.  Maybe it would help if each side would work harder to encourage civility within their own ranks.  Gov Cox seemed to strike the right tone, but I don't expect the same from Trump who wouldn't be a credible voice anyway.  I don't think there is much interest on both sides to calm down their rhetoric so I don't expect anything to happen.

[Kenngo1969]

I just watched this, linked below, in its entirety.  If even a fraction of the things Mr. Kirk's detractors are saying about him and about his positions are even close to being true, this gentleman, Amir Odom, has more than a few reasons to hate him that would be perfectly valid.  Yet, Mr. Odom doesn't hate Mr. Kirk.    (Strange, that!) He goes through many of those reasons, one by one, and critiques them: In essence, if not in actual substance, he says, "People hate Charlie Kirk because they say he has said [x] about [y].  This is what he actually has said about [y]."

The whole thing is worth a watch/listen:

My comment on the video was in response to something someone else posted (I can't remember whether Mr. Odom said it or whether Mr. Kirk said, it, but, either way, in this particular moment, it is appropriate:

"Don't Become the Hate You Claim to Fight."

P.S.: I forgot: My comment was, "I think that would be a fitting epitaph for Charlie's headstone."

Edited September 14, 2025 by Kenngo1969

[Tony uk]

There have been a lot of view raised within this topic regarding. A democracy and free speech are marvelous gifts that are within our grasp, as long as the free speech is not misused to deliberately ridicule or be harmful. This is something that all people should be mindful of. Imo, a democracy, one that holds to free speech. Then people need to understand, that at times, they are going to hear things that they not support, or feel comfortable with. Rather than progress to anger, and fist wave. It is better, imo, to discuss with other people, listen to them, and learn about other people's point of view. Just because there is a difference of view, does not necessarily make anybody right or wrong. Resorting to violence, only makes people adamant in there view point.

[JAHS]

20 hours ago, Duncan said:

Every line you wrote is garbage. I take it you have never been to University. There is no ideology you learn, liberal or otherwise. Kirk never went to University so his opinion about university and what they learn there is worthless

Kirk had a lot of good advice that I agree with. This was one thing I didn't agree with him on. College is not worthless. I think he emphasized that a little too much that it is worthless, even though it might be for a few people. A lot of people go to college not knowing what they want to do and try different subjects until they decide on what field they want to concentrate on. I would not be in the profession I am in if I hadn't gone to college and then graduate school. 

[longview]

An interesting item from the New York Post - - -

"Before being shot Wednesday, Kirk was being questioned by Hunter Kozak, a far left TikToker, who asked the conservative pundit about mass shootings involving transgender people.

"The two argued back and forth over the topic shortly before the shots were fired, killing Kirk, while Kozak was standing nearby. Kozak on Thursday posted a somber video on X, saying he still opposes many of Kirk’s conservative views but expressing condolences to Kirk’s family.

“It’s a tragedy,” said a teary-eyed Kozak. “People have obviously pointed to the irony that the point I was trying to make is how peaceful the left was – right before he got shot – and that only makes sense if we stay peaceful.”

[ZealouslyStriving]

14 hours ago, Raingirl said:

How is being racist, homophobic, and misogynistic being “gracious”?

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Fa5sYEmie/

[Raingirl]

1 hour ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Fa5sYEmie/

Nope. Not clicking on a Facebook link. Apparently, you’re unable to explain how being a bigot makes someone “gracious”.  Which is to be expected, because it doesn’t. 

[Kenngo1969]

4 hours ago, gopher said:

... I don't have any answers.  ...

Actually, you have more answers than you think you do.  As much as politics fascinate me, and as much as I might be willing to engage in the "rough-and-tumble" and the "give-and-take" of political debate as anyone, a couple of years ago, as I was [frankly] lamenting the then-probable re-election of then-President Joe Biden [and, heck, while we're at it, this applies equally to anyone who might be lamenting the reelection of once-and-current President Donald J. Trump] the thought came to me, "Ken, politics isn't going to save anyone.  Only Christ can do that."  

I have reflected on that again, and again, and again since that moment.

[ZealouslyStriving]

1 hour ago, Raingirl said:

Nope. Not clicking on a Facebook link. Apparently, you’re unable to explain how being a bigot makes someone “gracious”.  Which is to be expected, because it doesn’t. 

You are an utter moron.

The foxes have taken over this henhouse.

I'm done.

[ZealouslyStriving]

Fin.

 

 

[Raingirl]

13 minutes ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

You are an utter moron.

The foxes have taken over this henhouse.

I'm done.

You are unable to answer a simple question, so you resort to name-calling instead?   You apparently like to emulate your hero.  🙄

[Devobah]

It seems that the shooter did have an LDS upbringing, and there’s a few people on the internet (in the comments of the Amir Odom video) that are attempting to tie the act to that upbringing, which sickens me. The Exmormon subreddit has a thread that is about how the church will respond, and some are saying that they find it funny that the church tries to distance themselves from those that do acts that don’t put the church in a good light. 

[SeekingUnderstanding]

5 hours ago, gopher said:

If the latest news is true that the killer was in a relationship with his roommate who is transitioning from male to female, I fear that will further incite the Kirk supporters who were looking for a transgender motive for the killing.  The narrative that the killer was far right is starting to disappear.

It looks like Cox is confirming this. I know that conservatives feel mocked, and scorned by the left. I know Christians in the United States feel persecuted. But I wonder if there is anything quite like the anguish someone who is gay or trans feels when the persecution comes from friends and family (those closest around them) when they come out. Persecution that is greatly amplified by rhetoric like Kirk’s. Like I’m legitimately wondering. We’ve had a poster here say they feel absolutely gutted by it. What’s the equivalent?

[manol]

 

16 hours ago, bluebell said:

Lots of strong emotions in this thread, with good reason.  But I’m questioning the usefulness of leading with anger and polarization. It feels like that’s how we got here in the first place.

We are in a unique situation on this board, in that many of us have “known” each other for years. I feel like if anyone has a chance to take the off ramp away from anger and accusations, it’s this group of people.

Is there a way for us to discuss to understand rather to prove we are right?  Is there usefulness in trying?

Well said.

Imo we have here before us, both individually and collectively, the opportunity to choose peace over grievance; to choose healing over retribution; to choose love over fear. Imo we each have the opportunity to draw a large enough circle of inclusion that it's no longer “us” and “them”, but rather, only “us”.

Would it be out of place for me to see each of you as a sister or a brother, regardless of our opinions on social and political and religious topics? I hope not because, at the risk of sounding really corny, I do.

 

5 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

"Don't Become the Hate You Claim to Fight."

^^^This^^^

Imo the real battle isn't with "them"; it's with the fear, hate, resentment, indignation, vengefulness, etc. inside of us.  And imo the more we fill our minds with light, the less room there is for darkness in whatever form. 

[Devobah]

16 hours ago, bluebell said:

Lots of strong emotions in this thread, with good reason.  But I’m questioning the usefulness of leading with anger and polarization. It feels like that’s how we got here in the first place.

We are in a unique situation on this board, in that many of us have “known” each other for years. I feel like if anyone has a chance to take the off ramp away from anger and accusations, it’s this group of people.

Is there a way for us to discuss to understand rather to prove we are right?  Is there usefulness in trying?

Unfortunately I don’t see this going anywhere. The thread is inherently politically charged, and nowadays there isn’t much positive discourse between those of left and right ideologies. For every quote that Mr. Kirk said that could show him in a positive light, there’s another that could show him a negative light. 
 

I did see a video that someone said that we are so desensitized to death and shooting that we can even show the video on social media and will keep it up even if it’s horrific. I myself have scrolled past every video that even might allude to showing the shooting. I’ve struggled the past few days with this. The horrible reactions from both sides, the lack of empathy (even if Mr. Kirk said he didn’t believe in it) from one side, and this very special treatment from the other. 
 

I mourn the loss of life of one whom I believe shouldn’t have had his taken away. The shooter robbed him of any opportunity to change any viewpoints, even if it’s very slim. His wife has been robbed of a husband, their children of a father. The people there will have an image burned in their brains for the rest of their lives. This includes a cousin of who was in attendance.

I’ve turned off social media for a time being. I don’t know if I’ll ever check more than once or twice a month now. Being in the middle of so much noise has had me feeling like staring at the abyss and I’m the one who blinked. I have friends on both sides of the political parties, and have not found peace in their words. 
 

May we all be peacemakers, as advised. 

[SeekingUnderstanding]

2 minutes ago, Devobah said:

I did see a video that someone said that we are so desensitized to death and shooting that we can even show the video on social media and will keep it up even if it’s horrific. I myself have scrolled past every video that even might allude to showing the shooting.

I’m upset. I was watching a COMPLETELY unrelated video on twitter when auto play jumped right into a closeup video that showed him bleeding out within a fraction of a second. Disgusting and horrifying.

[Devobah]

17 minutes ago, SeekingUnderstanding said:

I’m upset. I was watching a COMPLETELY unrelated video on twitter when auto play jumped right into a closeup video that showed him bleeding out within a fraction of a second. Disgusting and horrifying.

Does Twitter have that kind of auto play system? It’s been years since I’ve had a Twitter and I don’t know how much has changed. 
I'm sorry you had that experience. I agree that it must have been disgusting and horrifying