During a speech about "the return of America" on 10/9, 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was asked a question from an audience member about mass shootings. Shortly after, Kirk himself became the victim of a shooting.

The prominent political activist died from a gunshot wound to the neck. Police have not apprehended a suspect, nor have they determined a motive for the assassination, but observers say the incident has all the hallmarks of a politically motivated murder.

"Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we cannot allow America to become a country that resolves disagreements with violence," said former Democratic Representative Gabby Giffords.

Giffords herself was shot in the head in a 2011 assassination attempt. In the 14 years since, attacks and threats against American politicians have surged. Three months ago, a masked gunman shot two Minnesota state legislators, killing one. In April, the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire while he and his family were sleeping inside.

During last year's election campaign, former President Donald Trump was twice the target of assassination attempts. A Florida court on 10/9 finalized jury selection for the trial of Ryan Routh, a suspect who brought a gun to a golf course with the intent to assassinate Trump but was detected and stopped by the Secret Service.

Giffords understands the alarming state of political violence in the US perhaps better than anyone. After recovering from the assassination attempt, she has repeatedly called on Americans to resolve political differences with words, not guns. However, those calls seem to have gone unheeded.

"This summer, the United States has seen politically motivated assassinations, first of a Democratic lawmaker and now a Republican activist. Dangerous individuals have used guns to express their discontent. Both parties have been targeted, and both sides have a moral and patriotic duty to find ways to stop gun violence that is taking so many lives," she said.

It's not just politicians or political activists; judges in the US have also become targets. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was the target of an unsuccessful assassination attempt in 2022.

Recent surveys show a growing acceptance of using violence for political purposes in the US. Robert Pape, who directs the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, described the results of a survey his group conducted in May as "the most worrisome to date."

About 40% of Democrats support the use of force against Trump, while 25% of Republicans want to deploy the military to stop protests against the president's agenda. These figures have doubled since last fall, according to Pape.

"We are increasingly becoming a violent society," Pape said, calling the current moment "the era of violent populism."

A crowd panics and flees after Charlie Kirk was shot in Utah on 10/9. Photo: AP

Kirk's death sent shockwaves through the White House, as he had close ties to the president and many senior administration officials. Some friends said Kirk was a passionate and inspiring political activist, considered a leading voice for young conservatives in the US.

"It's a heavy, irreplaceable loss for the Republican Party. Besides President Trump, no one had the same level of influence as Kirk in the party," said Jeff DeWit, a longtime friend and supervisor of operations and finance for Trump's campaign.

Kirk played a key role in attracting a new generation of political activists and steering them toward conservatism. He also helped Trump strengthen his appeal to young people and expand the Republican Party's base.

The conservative activist supported many of Trump's controversial policies. His podcast also contributed to Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results against Joe Biden.

Hasan Piker, who was scheduled to debate Kirk later this month, said in his livestream on 10/9 that the shooting could spark a "very worrying" wave of calls for revenge. Several right-wing activists have called for violent action in response to Kirk's murder.

Libs of TikTok, a right-wing X account, posted, "This is war."

A memorial to Charlie Kirk at Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona on 10/9. Photo: AP

"Threats and actual attacks have become a part of political life in Washington," said Kyle Cheney, a Politico analyst.

Many US lawmakers describe it as a "new normal," and the situation is becoming increasingly grim. But even in that context, Kirk's assassination sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill.

"There is no excuse for the scourge of political violence in our country. It must end," said Representative Steve Scalise, who nearly died after being shot in the hip on a baseball field a decade ago.

Many Democrats and Republicans have strongly condemned violence in politics. "Violence against those engaged in political activity is violence against American democracy and the right to free expression for all Americans," commented Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC's Morning Joe.

Tommy Vietor, a Democrat who served in the Obama White House, warned that political violence is "a spreading cancer that will tear the country apart."

"What the hell have we become?" writer Emily Zanotti asked on X. "We are facing an enemy, and it is ourselves," another person commented under the post.

Thanh Tam (According to Politico, Washington Post, Guardian)