A beloved husband, father, and son has been stolen from his family, and from America, because he dared to raise his voice for freedom. Charlie Kirk’s brutal assassination is not just an attack on one man, but a chilling assault on every American’s right to speak, to listen, and to live without fear of retribution for our beliefs.

This act of political violence is not an isolated tragedy. It is a dark sign that our nation has crossed a line and that the right to free speech, once the cornerstone of our Republic, is no longer safe in the public square. The culture of hatred and intimidation that fuels such violence is tearing at the fabric of civil society. If left unchecked, it will destroy us.

Americans of all political views must come together now to say: enough. Violence is not the answer. We must reclaim the American promise that disagreements are settled with words and votes, not with weapons and bloodshed.

Lawmakers, too, must act. The government has a duty to protect its citizens from retaliation and threats when they exercise their First Amendment rights. No American who donates to or supports a cause should be left vulnerable to harassment, intimidation, or worse.

Charlie’s death is a tragedy. Let it also be a turning point.