Erika Kirk still supports Second Amendment despite Charlie's killing

By MELISSA KOENIG, US REPORTER

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Erika Kirk has reaffirmed her support for the Second Amendment despite her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, being gunned down earlier this year. The mother-of-two took the stage at the New York Times' DealBook Summit on Wednesday when she opened up about Charlie's assassination at Utah Valley University on September 10 and the lessons she has learned since she took over his organization. Speaking to New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, Kirk insisted her husband's death was 'not a gun problem' - and was instead the result of issues like mental health and divisive politics.

Erika Kirk has reaffirmed her support for the Second Amendment despite her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, being gunned down earlier this year. The mother-of-two took the stage at the New York Times' DealBook Summit on Wednesday when she opened up about Charlie's assassination at Utah Valley University on September 10 and the lessons she has learned since she took over his organization. Speaking to New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, Kirk insisted her husband's death was 'not a gun problem' - and was instead the result of issues like mental health and divisive politics.

'What I've realized through all of this is that you can have individuals that will always resort to violence,' she said, according to the New York Post. 'And what I'm afraid of is that we are living in a day and age where they think violence is the solution to them not wanting to hear a different point of view. 'That's not a gun problem, that's a human - deeply human - problem,' Kirk continued. 'That is a solution problem, that is a mental... that is a very deeper issue.' She then acknowledged she 'wouldn't wish upon anyone what I have been through,' but said she supports the Second Amendment.

Authorities have said Tyler Robinson (pictured), 22, a left-wing college dropout, climbed onto a roof at the Utah college campus and fatally shot Charlie Kirk , 31. When he was questioned by police, Robinson allegedly justified Charlie's murder by saying 'some hatred cannot be negotiated with.' But Erika fought back against that assessment on Wednesday as she urged the peaceful settlement of political differences. The best way to push back against those with whom one disagrees, she argued, is not 'by murdering someone because they don't believe what you believe.'

Authorities have said Tyler Robinson (pictured), 22, a left-wing college dropout, climbed onto a roof at the Utah college campus and fatally shot Charlie Kirk , 31. When he was questioned by police, Robinson allegedly justified Charlie's murder by saying 'some hatred cannot be negotiated with.' But Erika fought back against that assessment on Wednesday as she urged the peaceful settlement of political differences. The best way to push back against those with whom one disagrees, she argued, is not 'by murdering someone because they don't believe what you believe.'

Still, Erika, a former Miss Universe contestant, has said she has forgiven the alleged shooter 'because it's what Christ did.' 'The answer to hate is not hate,' she declared at her husband's memorial service, in which more than 60,000 people packed State Farm Arena - the home of the Arizona Cardinals NFL team. At the DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Erika revealed that it was a last minute decision to offer Robinson forgiveness - explaining that she had intentionally left that part of her speech blank. 'I don't expect everyone to understand,' she admitted. 'It's not because you're weak, it's not because you think what the assassin did was correct - that's the exact opposite.

'For those of you who've been wronged, you know what it feels like to forgive someone, and in a way where it frees you from a poison and it frees you to be able to think clearly and have a moment where your heart is free and you're not bound to evil, and you're not thinking emotionally, you're thinking logically because you're free - you're truly, truly free,' she said. The widow previously also told Megyn Kelly that she resists letting anger take over. 'The enemy would love for me to be angry,' she said. 'He would love it'. Erika then went on to explain that ill will 'would distract me from building what Charlie entrusted to me, raising our babies, Turning Point, being there for the team, being there for what the future holds.'

'For those of you who've been wronged, you know what it feels like to forgive someone, and in a way where it frees you from a poison and it frees you to be able to think clearly and have a moment where your heart is free and you're not bound to evil, and you're not thinking emotionally, you're thinking logically because you're free - you're truly, truly free,' she said. The widow previously also told Megyn Kelly that she resists letting anger take over. 'The enemy would love for me to be angry,' she said. 'He would love it'. Erika then went on to explain that ill will 'would distract me from building what Charlie entrusted to me, raising our babies, Turning Point, being there for the team, being there for what the future holds.'

She had taken over the organization her husband built following his unexpected death and is now the CEO of the organization. Speaking to Sorkin on Wednesday, Erika said that allowed her to 'morph' the pain she felt at losing her husband 'into a form of purpose that you see will outlive you.' 'It puts into perspective that this isn't about me, this isn't about my life, this is about the legacy my husband left behind,' she said, according to the Times. 'But it's also about how we're fighting the good fight for our country.'

She had taken over the organization her husband built following his unexpected death and is now the CEO of the organization. Speaking to Sorkin on Wednesday, Erika said that allowed her to 'morph' the pain she felt at losing her husband 'into a form of purpose that you see will outlive you.' 'It puts into perspective that this isn't about me, this isn't about my life, this is about the legacy my husband left behind,' she said, according to the Times. 'But it's also about how we're fighting the good fight for our country.'

In the months since Charlie's assassination, Turning Point USA has continued to expand its network of chapters across American schools. Now, Erika says she plans to lead the organization the way Charlie would have wanted. 'Charlie was very good about creating and intentionally building a machine where it turns from founder-led to vision-led, and he shared everything with me,' she insisted. 'I knew his goals, I knew what his vision was for things, so this is not out of my orbit, this is not uncomfortable for me. It's not, because I'm picking up a mantle that I understand.'

In the months since Charlie's assassination, Turning Point USA has continued to expand its network of chapters across American schools. Now, Erika says she plans to lead the organization the way Charlie would have wanted. 'Charlie was very good about creating and intentionally building a machine where it turns from founder-led to vision-led, and he shared everything with me,' she insisted. 'I knew his goals, I knew what his vision was for things, so this is not out of my orbit, this is not uncomfortable for me. It's not, because I'm picking up a mantle that I understand.'

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