On Sept. 10, republican activist Charlie Kirk was shot at the University of Utah. He was on the university’s campus on behalf of his organization, Turning Point USA, which advocates for conservative politics. First Amendment rights allowed Kirk to verbally express how he felt.
Activists have made their voices heard by conducting campaigns or posting on social media. The actions seen in Kirk’s death have made people afraid to speak up when they see that other activists are being killed.
Being afraid to speak up should not be a problem because the First Amendment exists. It gives U.S. citizens the freedom of speech, press, petition, religion and to peacefully assemble.
The Bill of Rights was written to give all citizens equal rights, but, in the past years, the First and Second Amendments have contrasted one another.
“Freedom of speech, petition, religion is very important,” Del Val history teacher Paul Culcasi said. “I’m not saying the Second [Amendment] isn’t important, but those freedoms that we have in the first should create good governance; that’s what we want.”
Over the past 10 years, mass shootings in the United States have increased. Weapons are evolving, and it is not for good. States can individually decide to the extent its citizens can bear arms. While there is a license required to be able to have guns, not all citizens have good intentions when they have guns in their possession. This has led to the country hearing and witnessing mass shootings and assassinations more frequently.
“When the Constitution was drafted, people were using muskets, and now there are automatic weapons and machine guns; they didn’t have that kind of stuff,” Culcasi said.
The United States is supposed to be a safe country where people from different countries can come together. How are citizens supposed to feel safe going to school and work on a daily basis if they’re exposed to mass shootings?
“There is a broad consensus that Americans’ support being safe in a country that has a Second Amendment,” Del Val history and government teacher Ted Manner said.
Assassins are looking for “justice,” but does that work if they kill people that haven’t harmed them, and then they are sent to prison for their actions?
Activist Kirk had dedicated himself to talk about how, in his opinion, the U.S. can be a better nation. Although he did have followers that supported him, there were others that were against of his beliefs. Kirk and the people that did not support him both have the right and freedom to speak up in their political views.
“A democracy only works if we [the citizens] are able to have our freedom of speech,” Manner said.
How can citizens use the First Amendment if activists are assassinated for speaking out against the opposing party?
In an interview with CNN-10, head coach of the University of Oregon’s football team, Dan Lanning, talked about how putting into perspective our modern day politics can get better if people learn valuable lessons through sports, specifically his team.
“The U.S. could learn a lot from our locker room,” Lanning said. “…We got guys from different races, guys of different backgrounds, different religions and we got a team that loves each other. Tons of differences and I think we’re missing some of that in our country.”
After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Lanning found out that Kirk was a fan of his college football team.
“I hurt for Erica and their kids,” Lanning said. “That sort of evil should never exist in our country, and that’s what it is: evil. It’s just sad, and, you know, everyday it seems like we deal with some sort of violence that’s going on in our country. Whether it’s, you know, school kids in Colorado, or kids in Minnesota at churches. And I just wish people can learn something about our locker room.”
Assassinating political activists isn’t something new. Going back to the 19th century, when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, or when Martin Luther King protested and fought for equal rights. These political activists have made their voices heard and are speaking for those who have the same belief as them.
All of the amendments in the Bill of Rights are important, but it is noticeable that between the First and Second Amendments there are issues. There shouldn’t be fear of voicing your opinion when there is the freedom of speech. The government should take action and have stronger gun safety for the security of activists and citizens who are trying to live in peace.
