CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Many across the nation, including here in Chattanooga, are still in shock at the assassination of Charlie Kirk at an event at Utah Valley University.
Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative activist group who primarily reached out to young voters.
He was known for his on campus debate series such as “Prove Me Wrong”.
We spoke with several of his fans here in the Chattanooga area who say they’ve watched him for years, and appreciated what he brought to the conservative movement.
Cassie Marshall and Tim Sisson say despite Kirk living a short life, his impact on conservative politics is insurmountable.
They also pointed to Kirk’s deep faith as a Christian that they say anchored his beliefs.
Sisson said, “He was bold, he was courageous, he was a warrior. A man in the arena. A man on the frontlines. An inspiration to many…He’s really the leader of the movement really if you look at the movement of returning to American values and morals. He’s done more for this country and the young than half of these politicians.”
Marshall said, “He was a good Christian man. He lived through his faith… He had so much passion and so much love for the things that he believed in, and the fact he would come in fact check, everything he would be asked, he would come right back because he knew what he was talking about.”
We also spoke with those who say while they didn’t agree with Kirk politically, they still condemned this act of political violence.
Reed Hampton, the chair of Hamilton County High School Democrats, said the act of political violence sickens him.
Hampton said, “No matter what I think about Charlie Kirk’s opinions, no matter if I think what he has done for our country is reprehensible, he does not deserve to be gunned down in an act of violence. He had a family, children, they did not deserve to watch him die. No one deserves to be gunned down.”
McKenzie Maddux says she shares this sentiment.
She said, “Seeing that video… my friends who are also liberal, who are Democratic, it made us sick. I can only hope his children never see what exactly happened to their father.”
There were differing opinions on where we go from here.
Hampton advocated for gun reform including the passage of red flag laws, saying, “We need guns out of the hands of those who are going to use them to hurt themselves or to kill others.”
Marshall disagrees with that saying, “Something needs to be done, and I’m not talking about gun control because guns don’t kill people. People kill people.”
Marshall hoped Kirk’s spirit of debate lives on.
She said, “That’s what this country is lacking, communication with everybody. Everybody needs to be open and communicate with each other. It’s okay to disagree, but going out and killing somebody because of that, like what have we come down to? It’s not okay!”
Kirk was only 31 years old and is survived by his Erika, and two young children.
