Mr. Charlie Kirk was entitled to free speech but he was not a martyr. Sadly, Mr. Kirk was a victim of gun violence motivated by political violence

I also hope that Mr. Charlie Kirk (b. 1993- d. September 10, 2025) is resting in peace (“We can’t be afraid of the haters,” Our Readers’ Views, Sept. 24- The Columbian). And it is true that if our hearts are filled with the spirit of Jesus, we can be fearless and brave when it comes to peacefully and lovingly confronting hateful people. Mr. Kirk was entitled to the free speech rights he enjoyed as a leader of young conservatives, but he was not a martyr. 

Opinion letter published in The Columbian news by Steve Friebel in Vancouver Washington 

However, Charlie as a martyr is a struggle for some. Joan of Arc, Saint Stephen and Jesus are martyrs. Compared to these saints, by what measure is Mr. Kirk a martyr❓😒😟😧

Mr. Kirk was not assassinated for saintly behavior or for being misunderstood. He was disliked because he made a career of demeaning others — Black professionals, LGBTQ citizens, Muslims and immigrants — while hiding behind “common sense” and “Christianity.”

His dismissal of empathy as a “made-up term” and mercy as a liberal conspiracy clearly conflicts with all that Jesus and other martyrs claimed as important virtues. And calling for public executions is abhorrent.

Mr. Kirk's followers appear to have normalized his brand of fear and hate. I doubt that Jesus would condone much of what Mr. Kirk disgorged as righteous.

In the end, what one does is a more accurate indicator of one’s intentions more than what one says. Finally, in the end, “Only love can conquer hate.” Well stated.💙