Americans must remain vigilant but also committed to freedom following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week, Terrell County (Texas) Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland, a retired Border Patrol agent, told Newsmax on Sunday.
"Of course, this year alone, we've seen other political personnel targeted. And it's nothing really that new," Cleveland told Newsmax's "Wake Up America Weekend." "But, you know, we're Americans and we live in the United States, the greatest country in the world. And even though, at times, there are knee-jerk reactions to take quick and decisive action, you know, we live in the land of the free."
Cleveland noted that while political figures understand the risks of public life, further security measures at campaign and public events are inevitable.
"The death certainly was a tragedy, and we don't want to see anything like that," he said. "There are precautions we can take ... but again, we live in America. And, you know, I like to see us remain free."
Meanwhile, Zak Smith, a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation and former Justice Department attorney, told Newsmax that the rapid apprehension of the suspect underscored how closely authorities at all levels worked together.
"I think a lot of credit goes to state, local, and federal law enforcement officials for bringing this suspect into custody so quickly. I have no doubt this was an all-hands-on-deck effort," Smith said. "The FBI devoted significant time and resources to working to find this individual, to publicize who this individual is, and then to bring resources to bear to make sure that he was quickly brought into custody."
Smith added that the suspect's family ultimately came forward after seeing his picture broadcast on TV. "That likely would not have happened if law enforcement hadn't taken such quick actions to get security surveillance footage, take other proactive measures, and hopefully take the first steps to bringing this suspect to justice," he said.
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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