A group of Washington state senators say Wednesday’s assassination of rising conservative influencer Charlie Kirk calls attention to the threat of violence across the entire political spectrum.

Republicans Phil Fortunato, Jeff Wilson, Jim McCune and Leonard Christian say the Utah campus shooting demonstrates the state’s new Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Task Force should broaden its focus and give equal weight to threats from all political extremes.

“This senseless shooting shows that extremist violence is a concern for people of all political perspectives,” said Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview. “Charlie Kirk was a rising star in conservative politics who believed in engaging the other side in debate. That was the whole point of his national campus tour. He was doing things the right way, and that’s what makes this so hard to take.

“As our state considers ways to address extremism and mass violence, it must address political violence from all quarters. Many of us are concerned that the state’s new task force on domestic extremism appears weighted more toward one side than the other. If this effort is going to result in anything more than a call to restrict political speech, it needs to acknowledge that ideological violence is not a partisan issue.”

The state task force, created by a budget proviso in SB 5950 in 2024, is charged with developing a comprehensive public health approach to extremism and mass violence. A final report is due next year. A preliminary report issued in June raised concerns when it cited historic incidents of violent protest on the right yet failed to mention the 1999 World Trade Organization riot in Seattle, the occupation of Seattle’s Capitol Hill in 2020, and this year’s rampage by anti-Israel protesters at the University of Washington School of Engineering that did more than $1 million in damage.

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, spoke last year at the University of Washington and at Washington State University in April prior to Wednesday’s appearance at Utah Valley University.

“When Charlie Kirk appeared on college campuses, he told students who disagreed with him to go to the head of the line,” said Sen. Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley. “He was a voice for civility in political debate. The evil that has taken him from us should not be ignored as the state considers its approach to this very real problem.”

Sen. Jim McCune, R-Graham, said the shooting reflects a growing intolerance for free political speech. “This intolerance has become so toxic and vile that unfortunately something like this was bound to happen,” he said. “Any recommendations coming out of the task force on domestic extremism must address the growing vitriol coming from all parts of the political spectrum.”

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Pierce County, sponsor of an amendment last session that would have added “political affiliation” to the state’s hate crimes statute, said the shooting is what happens when debate turns to demonization. “Free speech means nothing if exercising it makes you a target,” he said. “What we are witnessing is not just political disagreement – it is the erosion of the very rights that define us as Americans. Charlie Kirk’s death must not be brushed aside as ‘another incident of gun violence.’ It is the consequence of the demonization of political opposition. Rather than using this incident to call for restrictions on public debate, we need to reaffirm our support for free political speech, and not be bullied into silence.”

Senators Phil Fortunato, Jeff Wilson, Jim McCune, and Leonard Christian are members of the Washington State Senate Freedom Caucus.