Violence is Not the Answer

Like all Americans I was horrified to see the shooting and killing of Charlie Kirk. This event, coming on the heels of the assassination of a Minnesota state legislator and her husband, and the attempted assassination of a Minnesota state senator and his wife, is a terrifying statement on how political violence is getting out of control in America. I want to take a moment this week to talk about the need for us to remember we are all Americans. While we can passionately disagree on political points, violence is never the answer.

A core characteristic of political discourse in this country has always been vigorous debate. We are a large and diverse nation with many different viewpoints, full of people who truly care about where we are headed. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, I believe the depth of caring and involvement Americans bring to the political process is a strength for our nation. It makes our government truly participative and gives all Americans the ability to influence the direction of our government.

However, violence and assassination should never be condoned. We must return to being able to disagree without resorting to violence. It absolutely sickens me that we have seen people lose their lives over their political beliefs. I implore all Americans to remember there is more that unites us than what divides us. 

When we, as a country, stand together, we can accomplish anything. We put a man on the moon, defeated the scourge of the Nazis and created unheard of prosperity that changed the world. We have different beliefs and backgrounds but are all united by our love of this place and a shared belief in liberty and freedom for every person. 

Debate is good. Our founding fathers engaged in vigorous and fiery deliberations for days on end to create the foundational documents that guide us to this day. Fighting hard for one’s own beliefs within the political process makes the outcome of any government policy better. But it must be done with respect for the human being on the other side of the argument. 

The assassination of a person because of their sincerely held political beliefs is a stain on our nation. I hope the killing of Charlie Kirk can serve as a wake-up call for all Americans and a turning point for the country. We can, and should, vehemently disagree on policy without resorting to violence.

Please feel free to contact my office at 573-751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.