Right-wing conservative political commentator and social media influencer Charlie Kirk, 31, was tragically shot and killed Sept. 10 during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University.

The late Kirk is quoted as saying, “I think it’s worth 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. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.”

Kirk’s words now take on a grim irony. His view that gun rights are necessary for safety and protection is largely echoed among many conservatives, a group Kirk identified with. But, many in this group are staunchly opposed to most, if not all, forms of gun control. What they may neglect to consider are the significant ramifications gun violence poses in America, especially its impact on countless communities who are left grieving in the wake of this violence. Each death represents a family shattered.

Rather than Kirk surviving and potentially becoming a warning about gun violence, Kirk, unfortunately, became a victim of lax gun laws. Utah’s House Bill 60, passed in 2021, allows anyone to carry a firearm concealed without a permit. This legislation enabled someone to enter a college campus and commit murder. This is deeply troubling and reveals the devastating flaws in so-called “constitutional carry” policies.

Gun violence is not a partisan issue — it affects Americans of every state, class and background. Every day, 125 people die due to gun violence in the U.S. — a staggering number that should concern all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. In the midst of this tragedy, it is my hope that Kirk’s death prompts conservatives to reconsider the consequences of unrestricted gun rights. Awareness, advocacy and policy change are desperately needed. We cannot wait for another life to be lost before we face the deadly consequences of our inaction.