Charlie Kirk believed 'every human being... is sacred'
News of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk's death following a targeted shooting while speaking at a campus Q&A event in Utah on September 10 sent shockwaves around the globe, with friends and supporters remembering him as a strong defender of family and the right to life — and as a man of strong Christian faith.
President Trump announced Kirk's tragic death on Truth Social, writing, "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL..."
President Trump ordered the American flag to be flown at half-mast at the White House through Sunday in honor of Kirk. Even high-ranking officials from multiple countries — including Argentina, Israel, Italy, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and more — have reacted with grief and horror at the news of Kirk's murder, and have paid tribute to his life.
Kirk, just 31 years old, leaves behind his wife, Erika, and their two young children. As part of his work as founder and president of Turning Point USA — a nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses — he was committed to changing hearts and minds about abortion in an effort to save the lives of preborn human beings.
A Passion for Sharing the Truth
Kirk was known for setting up tables on college campuses and asking people to "Prove Me Wrong." His visit to Utah Valley University on Wednesday was the first stop on his "The American Comeback Tour," which was to include 14 upcoming stops at colleges and universities across the nation. Crowds of young adults gathered at these events to ask him questions about virtually anything. At such events, Kirk was often asked about his views on abortion.
In 2021, Kirk expressed his hope for an end to abortion, telling Live Action founder and president Lila Rose, "I really believe this — we are gonna get rid of abortion like we got rid of slavery in this country. It's going to happen. They are moral equivalents."
"Who You Become"
In March of 2024, a woman named Erica told him about her mental health struggles and her time spent homeless. Kirk offered her compassion and support, telling her he was sorry to hear that she was homeless and congratulating her on overcoming that challenge in her life. He also encouraged her to continue growing.
She told him that due to her struggles, she "was not meant, put on this Earth to have children." She explained that she thinks abortion should be legal up to a certain point, and asked him, "Do you think we should just ban [abortion] altogether?"
Kirk replied, "So, I'm 100% pro-life." He added, "You're somewhat selling yourself short because look how long you've grown in a year. You went from homeless to here. Imagine how much you could grow, to one day be a mother. You're living a good life. You were homeless a year ago. You're not anymore, right? So praise God. The story you tell yourself is who you become."
That type of compassion and encouragement toward those with opposing views was a trait for which Kirk was known. He often asked those in the crowd to remain respectful, no matter which side of the discussion they were on.
The Evil of Abortion
When asked how to explain being pro-life even in cases of rape, Kirk said, "I have two ultrasounds here. One is an ultrasound of a baby from a loving marriage. The other one is a baby conceived in rape. Which one is which?... They both deserve human rights." He added, "When, if ever, in your moral universe, is it okay to do something evil after an evil act to try to make that evil act correct?"
Kirk was then asked how to defend this pro-life stance in relation to a woman's concerns about risking her health to carry a child conceived in rape. Kirk replied:
So it's a little bit of a false choice because they're acting as if the termination of the pregnancy will have no consequences or costs. A lot of women that get abortions have regret.
... We come at it from a very basic moral argument. There are two lives. There's a little life and a grown life. And no one has the right to eliminate a human life in utero, period.
During his debates, Kirk was clear about the sacredness of human life at every stage. In one particular debate, he declared:
Every human being, I believe, is made in the image of the Divine, is sacred, is unique. And if we get away from this principle as we have, we not only have moral degradation, we not only have the collapsing society around us, but it's bad for that being itself. That being itself is unique. That being has rights. And who are we to say just because we're older that we get to murder it?
A Time to Embrace the Truth in Love
After news of Kirk's death began to spread, Lila Rose penned an email to supporters of Live Action, saying she is "devastated" by the loss of Kirk.
"Charlie died in his ongoing effort to peacefully persuade others. He lived to share the truth, as best he knew how. He courageously spoke up for life, again and again," wrote Rose, adding:
He was unapologetically pro-life. His dedication to truth and his bold defense of the preborn made a difference and touched countless lives. Few people in the public square have been as bold in their support of life as Charlie.
He loved his family, and he loved his country.
He spoke often of his devotion for Jesus Christ and his desire for all people to know the saving power of Christ’s love. Charlie’s family deserves our prayers and our love and our support during this shocking, devastating time.
I think about what Charlie would want in a situation like this, and I think he would want people to know the truth. He would want them to be told not to choose violence or hatred but instead to choose reaching out to persuade others and to help others see the truth too.
"Every life is precious," Rose concluded. "Every life is a gift. When one is taken in such a senseless way, we are reminded of both the fragility and the immeasurable worth of each person."
As Father Mike Schmitz noted when speaking with Megyn Kelly about Kirk's assassination, feeling anger when faced with such a horrific act of violence is appropriate, but like William Wilberforce in the face of slavery, people must ensure that their anger moves them to "do positive things."
Rose added, "This is a moment not for anger but for prayer, for [Kirk's] soul and for his beautiful family who have to carry this heavy loss. May Charlie’s witness call us to reject hatred and violence and to embrace the power of truth spoken in love."
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Human Interest·By Nancy Flanders
