Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has used a major public platform to reaffirm her staunch support for the Second Amendment, despite the traumatic shooting that claimed her husband's life earlier this year.
A widow's stance on guns and grief
The mother-of-two addressed the New York Times' DealBook Summit on Wednesday, opening up about the assassination of her husband at Utah Valley University on September 10. Speaking to columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, Kirk insisted her husband's death was 'not a gun problem'.
Instead, she framed the tragedy as the result of deeper societal issues, including mental health crises and the nation's divisive political climate. 'What I've realized through all of this is that you can have individuals that will always resort to violence,' she stated, according to reports. 'And what I'm afraid of is that we are living in a day and age where they think violence is the solution to them not wanting to hear a different point of view.'
She elaborated further, arguing the core issue was human nature: 'That's not a gun problem, that's a human - deeply human - problem. That is a solution problem, that is a mental... that is a very deeper issue.' While acknowledging she 'wouldn't wish upon anyone what I have been through,' her support for the constitutional right to bear arms remained unshaken.
The attack and a message of forgiveness
Authorities have stated that the alleged assailant, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a left-wing college dropout, climbed onto a roof at the Utah campus and fatally shot 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, who was there for a Turning Point USA event. When questioned, Robinson allegedly justified the murder by saying 'some hatred cannot be negotiated with.'
Erika Kirk directly countered that mindset during her summit appearance, urging for the peaceful settlement of political differences. She argued the best way to oppose someone is not 'by murdering someone because they don't believe what you believe.'
In a powerful display of personal conviction, the former Miss Universe contestant revealed she has forgiven the alleged shooter, citing her Christian faith. 'The answer to hate is not hate,' she declared at her husband's memorial service, which drew over 60,000 people to the State Farm Arena in Arizona.
She explained to the DealBook audience that the decision to offer forgiveness was last-minute, leaving that part of her speech intentionally blank. 'I don't expect everyone to understand,' she admitted. 'It's not because you're weak, it's not because you think what the assassin did was correct - that's the exact opposite.'
She described forgiveness as a liberating force: 'For those of you who've been wronged, you know what it feels like to forgive someone... it frees you from a poison and it frees you to be able to think clearly.'
Leading a legacy and facing internal strife
Following her husband's death, Erika Kirk assumed leadership of Turning Point USA, the conservative organisation he founded. She is now its CEO. She told Sorkin this role has allowed her to 'morph' her grief 'into a form of purpose that you see will outlive you.' She emphasised her focus is on her husband's legacy and their two children, resisting anger that would distract from her duties.
However, the organisation has not been without controversy in the wake of the killing. Prominent commentator Candace Owens has reportedly spread conspiracy theories suggesting those within Turning Point USA were complicit in Charlie Kirk's assassination.
Blake Neff, Kirk's longtime producer, publicly denounced these claims. He stated Owens had 'tarred everyone at TPUSA in complicity with Charlie's death,' leading to harassment of staff. He refuted her various allegations, which he described as growing increasingly bizarre, involving references to French paratroopers and Egyptian military planes.
Neff accused Owens of manipulating her audience but ended his remarks with a surprising invitation for her to appear on the Charlie Kirk show to have her claims challenged directly, noting 'the ball was in her court.'
Despite the internal friction, Erika Kirk stated she plans to lead Turning Point USA as her husband intended, noting the organisation has continued to expand its network of school chapters across America since the assassination.
