This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at .
Political and religious leaders in Colorado reacted with shock, sadness and horror to the killing of conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during an event at a university in Utah. The violence came at the same time the state was reeling from .
Kirk had been scheduled to come to Colorado after the Utah speech. He was to have been the featured speaker Thursday night at the Andrew Wommack Ministries鈥� Truth & Liberty conference in Woodland Park. His American Comeback Tour was also scheduled for two events at Colorado State University a week later.
鈥淚t鈥檚 terrible, the day that we鈥檙e living in,鈥� Wommack said in an online video after the shooting. 鈥淭his ought to inspire all of us that, man, we are in a battle. It鈥檚 not just a physical battle, it鈥檚 a spiritual battle. And instead of shrinking back, or withdrawing, man, we need to double down.鈥�
On Wednesday evening, Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert joined a procession of grieving Republican lawmakers speaking to Kirk鈥檚 legacy from the floor of the U.S. House.
鈥淭oday is a really hard day,鈥� she said, her voice shaking with emotion. 鈥淚 do not believe that Charlie鈥檚 life being stolen in this manner is in vain. Charlie is a pioneer.鈥�
On X, Boebert posted, 鈥淢yself and others will not be silenced, nor back down. We will boldly march forward into the victory that belongs to us. What Satan meant for evil God WILL use for work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.鈥�
Boebert called Kirk a friend. She has spoken at several Turning Point events and also was scheduled to speak at the Truth & Liberty event alongside Kirk. Turning Point USA is a conservative advocacy organization focused on young people.
Colorado Springs Congressman Jeff Crank, a Republican, also noted his ties to Kirk, writing on Facebook, 鈥淚 had the honor of serving on the Air Force [Academy] Board of Visitors with Charlie. He was a compassionate warrior for the conservative movement. He will be missed.鈥�
News of Kirk鈥檚 murder arrived at almost the same time as the people began to learn of the school shooting in Jefferson County.
鈥淩ight before I got the news of what was happening in Evergreen High School, seconds before, I saw the update that Charlie Kirk had been shot,鈥� said Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen. 鈥淲hat is it going to take for us to come to the agreement that not every person should be able to buy a gun?鈥�
Politicians of both parties in Colorado expressed horror and condemned Kirk鈥檚 killing.
鈥淧olitical violence is never acceptable,鈥� Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, said in a statement. 鈥淭his is a challenging time for so many in our country, but any divisions we face will never be solved by trying to hurt each other. I am sending hope and love to his friends and his family in this dark hour. I encourage everyone to be stronger and disagree better and peacefully.鈥�
Democratic Rep. Jason Crow called it a tragic day.
鈥淭he political violence that we saw in Utah is unacceptable and needs to be condemned by everybody,鈥� Crow told CPR News. 鈥淩egardless of the form it takes, who's targeted, that doesn't factor into the analysis about whether or not it should be condemned, because we are all suffering as a result of any political violence.鈥�
Crow said political leaders should be unified in condemning acts of political violence as unacceptable in a democracy, instead of casting blame on their opponents.
There has been an uptick of violence directed at political figures in years, from the two of President Trump to the arson of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro鈥檚 home to the shooting of .
Those tensions flared on the House floor Wednesday. There were 30 seconds of silent prayer for Kirk on the House floor after news of his shooting broke. Boebert followed that by asking House Speaker Mike Johnson for a spoken prayer, saying 鈥渟ilent prayers get silent results.鈥�
Some Democrats objected, shouting that the victims of the Evergreen school shooting in Colorado hadn鈥檛 received the same acknowledgement, nor had other past shooting victims. The shouting between the two sides continued as Johnson tried to get control of the chamber.
