The assassination of Charlie Kirk was a watershed moment in contemporary American politics. There was always the chance of political violence becoming more ubiquitous post-insurrection attempt, but with Kirk’s killing, it became a reality.
In the immediate aftermath of Kirk’s murder, conservative commentators practically wanted anyone who had anything other than condolences to share to face consequences. Jobs were lost, comedians were attacked, and in Tennessee, a man was arrested on felony charges for posting a meme on Facebook of Donald Trump saying “We have to get over it” in regard to a shooting at Iowa’s Perry High School to point out the irony of conservatives suddenly being moved by gun violence.
