A chilling accusation has surfaced in the wake of the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. Podcast host Jennifer Welch asserted that Kirk, through his staunch advocacy for the Second Amendment, essentially invited his own fate.
The shooting occurred during a speaking engagement at a Utah college campus in September, claiming Kirk’s life. Tyler Robinson, 22, identified as a leftist, has been charged with the murder, a case that has ignited fierce debate and raw emotion.
Welch’s controversial statement came during an episode of her podcast, featuring former CNN anchor Don Lemon. She responded to a clip of CBS editor-in-chief Bari Weiss interviewing Kirk’s widow, Erika, who delivered a heart-wrenching plea against those who attempted to rationalize her husband’s death.
“You’re sick,” Erika Kirk powerfully stated in the interview, directly addressing those who suggested her husband deserved his fate. “He’s a human being. You think he deserved that? Tell that to my three-year-old daughter.”
However, Welch countered that Kirk himself provided the justification, referencing his previous comments regarding gun rights. She claimed he had, on record, suggested accepting school shootings as a consequence of preserving Second Amendment freedoms.
Welch specifically pointed to Kirk’s argument that some annual gun deaths are an unavoidable price to pay for upholding the Second Amendment and safeguarding other fundamental rights. He had also passionately advocated for increased security in schools, questioning why children aren’t afforded the same protection as other valuable assets.
The discussion took a jarring turn when Lemon interjected, claiming he was unaware of anyone who had justified Kirk’s death. This assertion stands in stark contrast to the documented reality of widespread celebrations and expressions of approval following the shooting.
Numerous individuals – teachers, professors, coaches, and others – faced termination for publicly celebrating Kirk’s murder on social media, demonstrating the extent of the disturbing reaction from certain corners of the political spectrum. The incident continues to fuel a deeply divisive national conversation.