September 11, 2025
The moment
At approximately 12:20 p.m. MT yesterday, September 10, 2025, a single rifle shot struck Charlie Kirk, 31, as he spoke to thousands at Utah Valley University in Orem. He collapsed as the crowd stampeded for cover. Early details indicated the shot came from an elevated position with a clear line of sight to the stage. As of this writing, the investigation is active, and major questions remain.
What we saw—and what we heard
We were live when the first clips hit our feeds. The video was graphic and instantaneous—one crack, a body drops, chaos. It’s the kind of moment that used to filter slowly through gatekeepers; now it floods every screen in seconds.
Lev Parnas: a personal reckoning
Lev shared how he met Charlie at 22, crossed paths with him and Candace Owens during Lev’s period orbiting the Trump White House, and how those early years hardened divides that now feel tragically permanent. Lev also revealed that his son, Aaron Parnas, was once close to working with Charlie—but chose not to, because he didn’t share the ideology. Lev’s takeaway was equal parts grief and gratitude: grief for a young father and husband whose life ended violently; gratitude that Aaron trusted his compass.
The shot: distance, discipline, intent
From the roofline to the stage, the distance mattered. A single, precise shot from roughly 140–200 yards suggests planning and marksmanship. U.S. Army veteran Nick Paro walked us through what that implies: a lightweight, easily broken-down rifle (an AR-pattern or similar) that a trained shooter could assemble, fire, and disassemble quickly to flee; a high vantage point with a clean backstop; and pre-planned exfiltration routes. Nick emphasized these are professional inferences, not official conclusions—the weapon and suspect are still unconfirmed. But his bottom line was stark: this bore the hallmarks of a targeted assassination intended to terrorize.
The words before the bullet
Context matters. Moments before the shot, Kirk was debating a student about mass shootings and transgender perpetrators. His final words on tape—“Counting or not counting gang violence?”—now echo with unbearable irony across a country fighting over facts and identity.
That irony deepens because Kirk had argued in 2023 that “some gun deaths… are worth it” as the price of preserving the Second Amendment—remarks that resurfaced across millions of feeds within minutes.
The spin cycle arrives on cue
Even as confusion reigned, Donald Trump moved quickly to frame the tragedy—praising Kirk, decrying “radical left political violence,” and promising a crackdown. Lev, citing his sources, predicted a precise playbook while we were on air: elevate the martyrdom, weaponize the outrage, and deflect policy questions. Within minutes, the posts and talking points followed.
What we know vs. what we don’t
Known: One fatal shot at a campus event; elevated firing position; investigation ongoing; national leaders condemning the killing as political.
Unknown: The shooter’s identity, exact motive, weapon specifications, and logistics of escape. (Nick’s analysis above is an expert assessment, not a confirmed fact.)
A way to honor the dead without stoking more death
If there’s a way to honor Charlie Kirk—someone who forcefully championed guns and debate—it’s to keep the country from snapping while insisting on real fixes that reduce bloodshed without turning America into a police state.
Lower the temperature, fast
Leaders: condemn political violence without partisan bait or whataboutism.
Platforms: slow the virality of graphic content and doxxing in crisis windows.
Events: adopt non-theatrical security protocols (rooftop sweeps, overwatch, controlled ingress/egress).
Policy that most Americans already support
Universal background checks with near-real-time reporting.
Extreme risk (red-flag) orders with due process and interstate reciprocity.
Safe storage requirements and liability for egregious negligence.
Straw-purchase and trafficking crackdowns, including serialized parts to close “ghost gun” gaps.
Event security standards for campus/open-air political gatherings (rooftop sweeps, counter-sniper overwatch, single-direction backstops).
None of that erases the Second Amendment. All of it saves lives—and cools a fever that, left untreated, ends republics.
Watch with an open mind
What happened yesterday remains a largely unanswered question. From what I know, authorities have recovered the gun used to shoot Kirk, but the shooter remains “at large.” We’ve pieced together what we can—on air, in real time—and sat with the human cost through Lev’s memories, Nick’s professional lens, and Zev’s reporting. A 31-year-old was killed in front of students in a politically motivated attack. The images shocked a nation; the rhetoric threatens to ignite it. Please, stay calm. Be reasonable. More violence never leads to peace.
Hands together, America.
Thank you
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