Letter to the Editor, (October 2025)

Dear Editor,

According to Merriam-Webster, assassination is defined as “murder by sudden or secret attack, often for political reasons.” I believe the murder of Charlie Kirk fits this definition. Reports indicate that the killer carved politically charged phrases into shell casings and took other deliberate steps suggesting a motive tied to animosity toward Kirk’s conservative message. In my view, this wasn’t random — it was political. And it reflects a troubling pattern of violence that I believe comes from the political left, aimed at silencing voices on the right.

Some commentators were upset by my Sept. 15 letter to the editor, which called out this reality. Are they right to be upset?

I wrote that many on the left celebrated. While some argue it was only a “fringe few,” I believe there were enough public and online reactions to show that political violence is being minimized or excused by too many. I’ve also seen polling and commentary suggesting that a significant share of Democrats no longer see political violence as completely unacceptable.

In my opinion, this isn’t just about one event. Time and again, the political left — as I see it, deeply embedded in the Democratic Party — has tolerated or excused violence to resolve political disputes. For example, former Virginia delegate Jay Jones was recently criticized for violent remarks about a legislator and his family. While not everyone agreed, I believe many in his party were too slow to condemn him.

If my letter doesn’t reflect your personal views, I respect that. But I’d ask readers to consider whether, among Democratic or left-leaning peers, there’s enough willingness to reject violence in all forms. And if anyone felt satisfaction when Trump or Kirk were attacked, I believe that reaction only confirms my concern.

We must reject political violence — clearly, consistently and without exception. That starts, in my view, with telling the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Chairman, Wright County Republican Party

Respectfully,
Dan Schonhardt
Chair, Wright County Republican Party