Students Reflect on Charlie Kirk’s Death

The news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination has stirred a range of emotions among college students, from sadness and disbelief to resentment and reflection on gun violence in America.

Kirk, the founder and president of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University during a “Prove Me Wrong” event, the first stop of the organization’s “American Comeback Tour.” The tour was set to continue across several campuses until Oct. 29.

Following his death, the Turning Point USA chapter at Long Beach State released a statement: “We are all deeply shocked and saddened by the death of our founder, president and hero, Charlie Kirk, yesterday. We will be making some posts soon from our members on how Charlie has impacted all our lives.”

Authorities in Utah have since arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who remains in custody as the investigation continues.

On Sept. 21, a public memorial was held for Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The service drew more than 90,000 attendees, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Erika Kirk, Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson.

Across campuses, student responses varied widely. Some viewed the assassination as a tragedy regardless of political differences, emphasizing the unnecessary suffering caused by gun violence. Others were less sympathetic, citing Kirk’s controversial stance on issues like the Second Amendment. For some, the incident highlighted what they saw as irony – Kirk’s death by gunfire following his repeated defense of gun rights.

Students also reflected on broader implications, pointing to America’s ongoing struggles with political polarization and recurring acts of violence. For many, the event highlighted the profound divide in how young people perceive political figures and their legacies.

One student from Long Beach State, who requested anonymity, reflected on the situation with unease. “At this point, it somewhat transcends gun violence entirely,” the student said. They pointed out a shift in Kirk’s political stance, adding, “If you look back in the last year, he’s (Kirk) been very pro-Israel about everything, so all of a sudden, a few weeks ago, he just takes a different opinion about it.”

Kirk’s change of perspective on Gaza was especially noted. He had stated, “They are trying to ethnically cleanse Gaza.” After this, some felt that the events that followed raised questions. As the student put it, “it doesn’t add up entirely at all.”

Doubts about the suspect in custody also surfaced. The same student remarked, “It’s just so bizarre, they catch this kid, and they have a side-by-side comparison of what this guy looks like in the security footage, and this kid may look similar, but there are subtle differences.”

The student was also skeptical about the narrative around the suspect’s background, saying, “They got the wrong person,” and frustration over the coverage was clear. “It just didn’t make sense to me when I read that headline in the upper campus last week,” the student said. They believed, “This is a broader-coordinated effort to take someone out.” Adding, “It’s a shame, this is a shadow of this country now, and they’re watching basically, it’s really sad.”

Another Long Beach State student, a political science and history major, took a different tone. “I know he was conservative, I didn’t agree with a lot of his points, but the whole point of this political system is for everyone to voice their opinions,” the student said.

They emphasized the foundation of free expression, continuing, “That’s how our country was built, everyone is able to express themselves, it’s unfortunate what happened, because he was talking about gun control and he died due to gun control.”

Recalling the day of the incident, the student added, “He died there, and I was completely shocked. I saw it happen on Twitter the minute after it happened and I was surprised.”

For them, the assassination symbolized a deeper issue. “This was another form of political violence; it is a problem in our country, we’re pushing the narrative of political violence,” they said. From their view, “If you look at the conservative view stance, they’re saying, blame the shooter, he was a leftist, and we need to avenge Charlie Kirk.”

The student worried this trend would further divide Americans: “It’s trying to push our country even further apart, when we are supposed to be united; our country hasn’t really been united since Obama was president.”

They also connected their perspective to personal experiences. “It’s scary, because I didn’t agree with Charlie Kirk’s stuff, because I’m Salvadoran, I have Hispanic heritage, especially with what’s going on in California, with all the ICE raids, my Dad just told me when I went home last, that ICE deported two of my cousins.”

Although critical of Trump and Kirk’s positions, the student noted the complexity of public reactions: “I don’t agree with Trump and Kirk’s views on that, but also I’m not trying to get too political, because I’ve seen arguments online saying why aren’t you showing sympathy that he had a kid and a wife, and I’ve seen other arguments saying, but yeah also look at what’s going on with ICE, Palestine and all that.”

In the end, they acknowledged their mixed feelings. “I’m sympathetic to a sense, but I feel like I can’t really choose a side, because you’re going to be upsetting someone no matter what.” They concluded with a broader reflection: “For a country that says that we can voice our opinions, it feels like we are very kept to ourselves nowadays.”