Charles James Kirk

From State Senate Republicans:

SANTA FE — Today, political organizer and conservative youth activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University.

New Mexico Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) reacted to these new developments with the following statement: 

“We have people in our country who think that free speech is somehow an existential threat to our democracy. Today, such people executed a man whose only crime was loving God, loving his country, and loving his family.

Yet our republic cannot function without healthy political debate.

Shame on those who can’t—or won’t—engage in a civil conversation and instead resort to violence to silence the voices of those they disagree with.”

Editor’s note: Charles James Kirk, 31, was an American political activist, author, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA in 2012 and served as executive director. According to the latest reports, he was shot in the neck today while speaking at an event on campus at Utah Valley University. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.