A recent survey reveals that more than a quarter of young voters think America is “better” following the death of Charlie Kirk. It turns out that 26% of individuals aged 18 to 34 responded affirmatively to the question. It’s a challenging topic, really—wanting to wish harm upon anyone. But they wonder, is America in a better place now that Kirk has been killed? Among those who align with the Democratic Party, 24% answered positively.
Kirk was tragically shot on Wednesday while addressing a student at an event at Utah Valley University, leaving behind his wife and two small children. The individual accused of the shooting reportedly lived with a transgender partner. The bullet casing from the weapon was inscribed with strange phrases like “Hey fascist! Catch!” and “If you read this, you’re a gay lmao.”
The survey indicated that 31% of respondents who correlate policies with Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez believe the nation has improved since Kirk’s passing. Overall, only 15% of those surveyed felt positively about the statement, whereas 67% disagreed, and 18% remained uncertain.
Interestingly, just 38% of Democrats said they offered prayers for his wife and children, in contrast to 75% of Republicans who did so. Additionally, among Democrats surveyed, 31% placed the blame for political violence in America on Republicans, while 35% of Republicans pointed fingers at Democrats. In total, 66% of all respondents felt that one party bore less responsibility.
The sentiment continued, with 36% of Democrats suggesting that Republicans encouraged Kirk’s assassination, while 29% blamed anti-Trump rhetoric. If you include self-identified Democrats who lean toward the party, those numbers rise slightly to 35% and 32%, respectively. Only 24% of Democrats viewed the media as partially responsible, whereas 42% of Republicans felt that way.
Among Republicans, 57% viewed Kirk’s murder as “an important turning point in American history,” which is quite notable compared to the 40% of all respondents and 26% of Democrats who agreed.
The survey was conducted from September 12 to 13, gathering insights from 1,000 registered voters. In earlier polls, similar attitudes were noted. For example, an April poll indicated that a significant portion of leftists thought individuals like Elon Musk were justified in the violence against him to some degree. Moreover, a recent study highlighted that over a third of university students accepted violence as a means to thwart speeches on campuses.
In the aftermath of Kirk’s murder, there have been repercussions for those expressing pro-violence sentiments online. The Army halted reserves who supported the assassination and made threatening remarks toward Trump and White House officials. Office Depot even terminated an employee who declined to print a vigil poster for Charlie Kirk, labeling it “propaganda.”
