As journalists, we on the staff and Editorial Board of The Mentor are dedicated to preserving and protecting the First Amendment, and we strongly assert that no one should lose their life for peacefully expressing their opinion.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. His death has sparked melancholy and controversy, outrage and anxiety, and even rare bipartisan calls for unity. It has also underscored a troubling pattern of recent violence that has targeted figures across the political spectrum, from Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro to Republican President Donald Trump, and claimed the lives of many more.
The MHS Editorial Board believes that all acts of violence have no place in America, or anywhere else.
However, embracing freedom does not mean abandoning responsibility. To create an environment where we can all speak our minds without fear, we must all commit to choosing our words wisely, to considering the effect of what we say on the lives of others. And even when we disagree, we must resolve these differences respectfully — with words, not weapons.
Furthermore, Kirk’s death reflects a larger pattern of violence across America, from school shootings to political killings. After watching the gruesome shooting, some members of the Editorial Board called for increased regulations on firearms. Others emphasized a need for safeguards and security but also recognized that — as in many moments of genuine national crisis — excessive measures could stifle key freedoms. No one viewpoint has a magic pill for all the problems America faces, and the ability to freely share different views is key to its survival.
That is why the death of Kirk, and the deaths of countless other Americans, are horrible tragedies — tragedies that must not be repeated. Because while their lives were taken, their voices will not be silenced: the violence must end. So let us listen to them, and to each other. Let us reflect on how divisive and dehumanizing our political environment has become. Let us come together and heal our nation, and ensure liberty and justice for all.