Kristy Kelly: Charlie Kirk did not deserve to die
Charlie Kirk did not deserve to die.
Full stop.
We do not live in a society that condones vigilante justice, and yet, a man was executed in public view.
As of 1:05 p.m. Friday, no one—not the media, not law enforcement, not the public—knows why. Except perhaps the shooter himself, or the father who turned him in. Every explanation so far has been speculation. That hasn’t stopped news outlets from spinning possible motives, filling airtime with theories as if guessing can substitute for truth.
And yet, while facts remain scarce, people are celebrating. They are applauding a man’s death. They are sharing memes, dropping laughing emojis, and calling it justice. That celebration sickens me.
Before you come for me, stand in line. I still have people angry at me for what I wrote in July. Charlie Kirk said vile things, hateful things, along with words that inspired a following. I didn’t know him, and I don’t excuse his rhetoric. But disagreeing with someone’s speech does not make their murder justified. As far as I know, Charlie Kirk never committed a crime worthy of the death penalty.
What we all witnessed, in real time and on repeat, was a public execution. The slow-motion clips, the rewinds, the aftermath, all delivered to us in the palm of our hands. We’ve grown desensitized to death—so much so that people mistake cruelty for catharsis, and public killing for justice. Blame the news, blame video games, blame the internet if you want. But the truth is simpler: we’ve lost sight of the value of a human life.
And that loss of value should terrify us. Because if words are now punishable by death, where does it end? Raise your hand if you’ve ever been called too loud, too opinionated, too controversial. Raise your hand if you’ve posted something someone else hated. That’s all it could take—a stranger with a high-powered rifle deciding your voice is too much.
I am a woman who has published controversial opinions. I am someone who has made people angry with my words. Does that mean my life is negotiable now? That someone else can decide I’ve said too much and silence me permanently?
If this is what we celebrate—if we excuse executions because we disliked the victim’s words—then none of us are safe. Not me. Not you. Not anyone who dares to speak.
Neuse News is an independent, locally-owned startup based in downtown Kinston. We’re committed to providing free, hyper-local news across Lenoir, Greene, and Jones counties—the kind of stories that matter most, delivered in a format built for today.
We don't charge subscriptions. Instead, we rely on readers like you—and the businesses that serve our community. When you shop local, dine local, and click on our sponsor ads, you help us keep real journalism free and accessible.
