Guest Commentary |
What Charlie Kirk’s assassination; his voice cost him his life


by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator


Charlie Kirk’s death echoes America’s tragic history of assassinated leaders, reminding us that violence cannot silence free speech.


Charlie Kirk was a man who had opinions and vocalized them. He believed in free speech. He also believed in the right of free speech for those who disagreed with him. In his Turning Point rallies, he gave untold numbers of people the opportunity to express their opinions and to debate him. He respectfully gave each person the time to state their case on whatever the subject. Charlie was adamant, profound and articulated strong convictions.

Glenn Mollette
Sadly, a deranged 22-year-old man from Utah took Charlie’s life. It has been reported that the gunman had previously stated at a family dinner that he thought Kirk was filled with hate.

When Kirk spoke at a University rally in Utah, the gunman plotted and positioned himself to shoot a single long-range rifle shot that took Kirk’s life. The man ran back to his home where he later had no choice but to confess to his father that he was indeed the man who had been videotaped at the rally who took Charlie Kirk’s life.

The lone assassin is an evil coward who silenced one of America’s star voices. At least he thought he did. Charlie Kirk has become more known and his sound clips have been heard more in the last few days than in his entire ministry/career. Kirk has been propelled by the assassin to a status in American culture that will never be forgotten. Instead of silencing Kirk he magnified Kirk’s voice and message a hundred or more times. Kirk is now being remembered around the world.


It’s one thing to have a hateful, negative thought, but it’s another to allow hate to act itself out in such a way.

Charlie Kirk used his voice. Every American is entitled to this freedom. His voice cost him his life.

Abraham Lincoln gave his life reuniting our country and abolishing slavery. A cowardly assassin took Lincoln’s life as he leisurely watched a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. John F. Kennedy used his voice to excite the American people and to bring about a positive attitude in the country, but was gunned down by an assassin from a hidden window in downtown Dallas, Texas. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man with a great voice who stirred the hearts of millions of Americans and brought about liberating change for black Americans. An assassin who disagreed with King cowardly hid and took King’s life with a bullet. Malcom X and Bobby Kennedy were orators for positive change in America but someone who disagreed with their views killed them.

The greatest voice of hope, love, change and forgiveness, who ever lived, was Jesus Christ. A cowardly crowd yelled for him to be executed.

These mentioned voices were not silenced by hideous crowds or hidden gunmen. Each of their voices have rung loudly and clearly. Their legacies have only grown bolder and stronger.

It is sad that Charlie Kirk’s assassin did not go down to the rally, stand up like a man and challenge Kirk in a debate. He could have told Kirk what he thought about him and given Kirk a chance to respond. But no, he was a weak, spineless man filled with more hate than probably anyone in America at that given moment.

It’s one thing to have a hateful, negative thought, but it’s another to allow hate to act itself out in such a way.

Violence is never the answer. Let’s keep America free. Free to speak, free to debate, free to practice and express our religion. Let’s have peaceful and strong conversation not assassination.



About the author ~

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.



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Charlie Kirk assassination legacy, history of assassinated American leaders, free speech and violence in America, political debate versus violence, legacy of voices after tragedy

IDOC enacts emergency rule to protect staff from contraband



Prison staff safety concerns prompt Illinois to scan all inmate mail and restrict books to publisher shipments under new emergency rules.

Prisoner reading a book in her cell
Photo: RDNE Stock Project/PEXELS

DIETERICH - The Illinois Department of Corrections has enacted emergency rules designed to curb contraband entering state prisons after a string of drug-related incidents put correctional officers at risk.

The rule, effective Aug. 14, requires all incoming letters to be electronically scanned, with incarcerated individuals receiving only digital or paper copies. Publications such as books and magazines must now be sent directly from publishers.


Union members held pickets last year after multiple exposures prompted temporary mailroom shutdowns.

State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, pushed for the changes following last year’s reported overdoses and accidental exposures that hospitalized several correctional staff.

“It should not have taken nearly a year for this common-sense policy to be put in place,” Niemerg said in announcing the rule change.

The move follows concerns raised by the union representing prison employees, AFSCME Council 31, which reported rising use of synthetic drugs and dangerous substances, including wasp spray, within correctional facilities. Union members held pickets last year after multiple exposures prompted temporary mailroom shutdowns. IDOC signed a vendor contract to handle scanning shortly after the safety concerns were raised.

The emergency rules remain in effect for up to 150 days. IDOC may move to make the policy permanent following review. Niemerg said he will continue to monitor the situation alongside staff at Lawrenceville and Robinson Correctional Centers, both of which he visited during the height of the crisis.



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TAGGED: Illinois prison mail rules, IDOC emergency rules 2025, Adam Niemerg prison safety, Illinois correctional staff exposures, AFSCME prison union safety


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