Speaking from Capitol Hill, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., told Newsmax on Wednesday that it’s "completely unacceptable" that conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed for his beliefs, especially given his signature style of giving opposing views a chance to be heard.
"This stuff shouldn't happen," Mullin said on "The Chris Salcedo Show."
"What a lot of people don’t realize is that Charlie didn't make laws. I mean, literally, the guy gave an opportunity for the opposing views to be heard.
"He went to the campuses where most politicians wouldn't even consider going, literally wouldn't even consider going, and he had an open debate.
"He gave an open platform for those with opposing views to have, honestly, a safe conversation in their backyard. He didn't belittle any individuals.
"He talked about facts, and he gave that opportunity to individuals to speak on their beliefs. And because of his beliefs ... because of his strong Christian stance, he was killed."
"I'm not trying to point fingers here, but let me just say something here real quick, all right?" he continued.
"He was a Christian, and Christians are under attack right now from this far crazy left views that say they don't feel safe.
"Well, they're the ones going in and shooting up our schools and shooting up our churches and shooting people that they don't agree with, like President [Donald] Trump and now Charlie Kirk.
"The temperature is too high and now we're taking loved ones away from their families because you oppose his views? Yet he was just someone giving you an opportunity to speak.
"And you think his views are so bad, you have to eliminate him, you have to kill him, you have to take him away from his wife and his kids? This is completely unacceptable. I mean, what has happened to us in the country that we can't even have an open debate now."
Kirk, 31, was assassinated Wednesday afternoon during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
The co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, the largest and most influential conservative youth organization in the U.S., was hit about 20 minutes after he began speaking on campus.
President Trump confirmed Kirk’s death in a post on his Truth Social platform.
"It breaks my heart for his family, for his kids and all of us that had the privilege to actually call him a friend," Mullin added.
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