Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was known for making provocative and controversial statements on various political and social issues. Recently before his assassination in September 2025, some of his notable remarks included defending Second Amendment rights by stating that gun deaths were "worth it" to preserve the right to bear arms. He also criticized the Civil Rights Act of 1965 and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., calling King "awful" and alleging the Act created a permanent bureaucracy for diversity and inclusion. Kirk often promoted conservative cultural positions such as opposing gun control, abortion, and progressive social movements. He was known for engaging in debates on college campuses, using a "Prove Me Wrong" format, and appealing to young conservatives. His last public event was a debating session at Utah Valley University, where he was tragically shot and killed.