On the 9th of September I planned on writing this month’s article about the different lawsuits the NRA had in the works. That changed drastically on the afternoon of 10 September with the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Like many of you I’m sure, I was familiar with the name Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA. I saw him occasionally being interviewed by Laura Ingram or Sean Hannity. I knew he was very active on college campuses. I had no idea the impact he had not only in this country, but around the world.
To say the least, Charlie Kirk was a very impressive individual. He started Turning Point USA when he was 19. The impact of this organization was evident with the significant shift in voters 18-24 voting for conservatives. Political commentator Victor Davis Hanson remarked that Charlie Kirk, “…might have been more responsible for winning key states in the 2024 election than any other political activist.” After meeting a 24-year-old Charlie Kirk for 30 minutes in 2018, the late Rush Limbaugh commented on his radio show that “he could be President someday.”
Charlie Kirk was unapologetically outspoken concerning his beliefs. His faith, his belief in Constitutional Rights and traditional values made him a lightning rod for hate; despite being incredibly civil to those with whom he disagreed. Through his actions he was a staunch supporter of the 1st Amendment (1A.) He was also a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment (2A.) Many have remarked that the 2A backs up the 1A. It should also be noted that without the 1A, we wouldn’t have the 2A Rights that we have today.
The NRA is a sponsor of Turning Point USA and participates in their events. In 2019 the NRA Annual Meeting of Members was in Indianapolis. I had the chance to sit in on a meeting with the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) leadership as well as members of Turning Point USA. College students being able to exercise their 2A Rights was the main focus of the meeting. I met many very impressive young NRA members who also worked with Turning Point USA. College students wearing empty holsters to bring attention to having their 2A Rights denied was one of the themes. Much progress has been made in campus carry, but we have a long way to go. That includes here in Indiana.
In the United Kingdom (UK) a huge rally of over 110,000 people (although it looked to be a much higher number) took place known as the Unite the Kingdom Rally supporting the memory of Charlie Kirk. The UK has been jailing people for “offensive” speech for several years. Recently comedy writer Graham Linehan was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport for “suspicion of inciting violence” based on an X.com post he made in the United States. The UK lost what was left of its gun rights in 1996. Being jailed for speech didn’t take long to follow and I do not see that as a coincidence. The people at the Unite the Kingdom Rally saw the freedom that Charlie Kirk stood for, and came together in solidarity. NBC News referred to the rally as “far right wing.” It is truly a sad day when free speech is declared to be “far right wing” by an entity that exists because of the 1A.
In South Korea a huge group rallied to mark the passing of Charlie Kirk as well. “We are Charlie Kirk” echoed through the streets of Seoul. The United States has had troops in South Korea since 1950 and they are a strong ally. Censorship and laws forbidding the speech we take for granted here are common in South Korea. There is an organization in South Korea called Build Up Korea. Charlie Kirk visited South Korea shortly before his death. Build Up Korea founder Mina Kim stated that in 2023 she modeled the organization after Turning Point USA.
The weapon used to murder Charlie Kirk: I’m sure most everyone reading this is familiar with the name Mauser. The German arms manufacturer whose design of the bolt-action not only revolutionized warfare in the late 1800s, but is what all modern bolt-actions are based upon today. The caliber .30-06 Springfield is one of the most common calibers in use. Today primarily for hunting, it was designed for warfare in 1906 (ought-six is the year it was introduced.) Nearly 120 years later, the .30-06 paired with a Mauser bolt-action rifle is a formidable weapon.
The “engraved” cartridges: Most of us here could discuss the differences between a .30-06 cartridge in 150 grain full metal jacket, and a .30-06 cartridge in 168 grain pointed soft point. As far as what was engraved on the spent casing still in the chamber of the weapon that killed Charlie Kirk, and the three cartridges in the internal magazine… I needed someone much younger to decipher it.
The “engravings” had references to Fascists, and another had a reference to “furries” (people who dress as animals.) One had two of the five words in Italian that I know, but I didn’t know the reference was from Italian partisans (who were Communists) in WWII. Another had a series of arrows. These were the commands to drop a bomb from an aircraft in an online video game.
I’m afraid there is a world on the Internet that most of us have been unaware of until recently. A world where unpopular speech is violence, and violence against those whom they disagree is speech (very Orwellian.) A world where assassination is justified based on someone’s differing point of view.
In a part of the Internet I have frequented for nearly 13 years, I came across something in the discussion of Charlie Kirk’s assassination which I found to be quite profound. This individual (who I have met in person) goes by the screen name Ditcherman. “How far away is anyone from being sucked into a tribe of misinformation? We’re all on here arguing, to get to the truth, and we think we have it, but we’re adults that have been through a lot of life. Think about the 9 or 18 year old brain navigating this (expletive deleted) world. This is the essence of Charlie Kirk’s mission. I am Charlie Kirk.”
Going forward, I look for Turning Point USA to be a bigger influence than ever. As gun owners we must remember the importance of both the 2A, and 1A because without both, we have neither.
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