When Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10, the nation barely had time to process the news before the narratives unraveled. Some saw the death as political martyrdom. Some called it inevitable. But for those who were paying attention, Kirk’s assassination extended a disturbing pattern: political violence. It began with the attempts on President Donald Trump’s life last year and continued with the fatal shooting of Minnesota representative Melissa Hortman and her husband. The crisis has come to a boiling point with Kirk’s death, making the trend harder to ignore.

The truth of the matter is that politically motivated assassinations are becoming commonplace. Something that everyone—no matter their affiliation—should agree on after Kirk’s death is that no one should be killed for expressing a political opinion. This is not about left or right. It is not about red or blue. It’s about a basic standard of civility and human decency that we are rapidly losing as a country. 

At the core of the issue lies a deeper rot: political polarization. America is more divided than ever. According to globalaffairs.org, both sides acknowledge that polarization is a threat, yet neither is willing to take accountability. Democrats and Republicans alike “cite each other as the problem” in perpetuating polarization. That’s the cycle we’re trapped in: everyone can agree that there is something wrong, but won’t admit that they are part of the problem. 

The constant finger-pointing and demonizing of the opposing party distracts from the issue of gun violence, making bipartisan compromise impossible. When every act of violence is immediately framed as a political attack rather than a national tragedy, the true nature of the event is warped. The recent political assassinations have proven that no one is safe from gun violence — no Democrat, no Republican, no human. 

Gun violence and political violence is not a question of right or wrong. It is a question of humanity. Despite the number of Americans who repeatedly say, “never again,” it does happen again and again. The promise has become a ritual, not a wholehearted commitment. Neither party can prevent violence if the division in our nation remains.

Polarization also makes agreeing on a solution impossible. While 73 percent of Democrats say making it harder to legally obtain guns would lead to fewer mass shootings, only 20 percent of Republicans agree, with 65 percent saying such laws would have no effect according to pewresearch.org. These figures reflect not just a policy gap, but a split perception of reality. If we cannot agree on what the problem is, how can we expect to find solutions? 

If the politically motivated assassinations of public figures isn’t a sobering reminder of our division, what is? We have not mourned the death of Kirk, we have weaponized it. We have turned a moment that should have inspired reflection into yet another talking point. Another way to score points against the other side. Another missed opportunity to come together. 

Political violence is not just an act; it is an extension of the mindset that allows it to happen. A mindset where opponents are no longer seen as fellow people with different views, but enemies who must be destroyed. United we stand, divided we fall — but what happens when no one is left standing?