Charlie Kirk consistently defended gun rights, arguing that gun deaths are an unfortunate but acceptable cost to preserve the Second Amendment. He opposed most gun control measures and promoted arming civilians as a deterrent to violence.**
Here’s a breakdown of his most notable statements and positions:
Charlie Kirk’s Views on Guns and Gun Control
There is no First Amendment without a Second Amendment.
At the 2018 NRA-ILA Leadership Forum, Kirk emphasized that the right to bear arms is foundational to all other freedoms, framing gun ownership as a safeguard against government tyranny.
Gun deaths are worth it.
In a 2023 Turning Point USA Faith event, Kirk stated
Having an armed citizenry comes with a price… I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.
Why don’t our children have armed guards?
He frequently argued that schools should be protected like banks or airports, suggesting that arming more Americans—including school personnel, would reduce gun violence.
Dismissed gun control as ineffective and ideological.
Kirk often claimed that gun control wouldn’t stop mass shootings and that Democrats were using it as a pretext to erode freedoms. He tweeted that.
*“Democrats don’t want to fix gun violence.
They want to take away your Second Amendment.”*
Criticized empathy as a “made-up, new-age term.
After mass shootings, Kirk resisted calls for stricter laws or emotional appeals, arguing that liberty requires accepting risk. This stance drew criticism for lacking compassion toward victims.
Kirk’s assassination in September 2025 reignited debate over political violence and gun policy. While some mourned his death as an attack on free speech, others pointed to the irony of his pro-gun rhetoric in light of the circumstances.
If you want to turn this into a snarky explainer or badge series
“Freedom Costs Extra,”
“Empathy Is for Liberals,”
or
“Armed but Unprotected”