Fact Check: Did Charlie Kirk Say Gun Deaths Are ‘Worth It’ to Protect the Second Amendment?

Charlie Kirk, CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, once argued that some gun deaths were a price worth paying to protect the Second Amendment. The statement was made during a TPUSA Faith event on April 5, 2023, at Awaken Church in Salt Lake City. It resurfaced online after Kirk was fatally shot in Utah on September 10, 2025.

According to archived video and audio from the event, Kirk said it was “worth it” to accept a level of annual gun deaths so Americans could keep the constitutional right to bear arms. His remarks quickly went viral following his death, with many users sharing the clip across social media platforms.

Charlie Kirk’s Statement and Context

Kirk responded to an audience question on gun rights at the event. He explained that the Second Amendment was not about hunting or personal defense, but about resisting tyranny. He compared gun deaths to car accident fatalities, saying both were unavoidable costs tied to freedoms society chooses to keep.

At one point, he said directly: “I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”

The comments were confirmed by sources such as Media Matters for America, which published a transcript of the speech, and recordings archived by the Internet Archive. Snopes and other fact-checkers later verified the quote as accurate.

Public Reaction and Broader Debate

The resurfacing of Kirk’s 2023 remarks drew sharp debate. Supporters saw his words as a blunt defense of liberty, while critics called them callous in light of mass shootings in the United States.

Kirk also argued for practical measures like armed guards at schools, noting that security had reduced violence at airports, banks, and sports events. He dismissed what he called “utopian” expectations of eliminating gun violence entirely.

The controversy highlights the ongoing national divide over balancing gun rights with public safety. Advocates of stricter gun laws say such views downplay human loss, while gun rights supporters see them as necessary realism.

Charlie Kirk’s verified quote shows he believed that some gun deaths were a justified price for defending the Second Amendment. His words remain part of the larger U.S. debate over freedom, safety, and the role of firearms in society.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: Did Charlie Kirk really say gun deaths are “worth it”?

Yes. Kirk made the remark at a TPUSA Faith event on April 5, 2023, in Salt Lake City. The statement is confirmed by archived video and transcripts.

Q2: Where was the event held?

The event took place at the Awaken Church campus in Salt Lake City, Utah, during a TPUSA Faith gathering.

Q3: Why did his comments resurface in 2025?

The quote went viral after Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on September 10, 2025. Social media users shared his 2023 remarks widely after his death.

Q4: How did he justify his view?

Kirk compared gun deaths to car accidents, saying both are unfortunate costs of freedoms society accepts. He stressed guns protect against tyranny.

Q5: What was the public reaction?

Reactions were divided. Supporters praised his honesty, while critics said his view dismissed the pain caused by gun violence.

Sources

Reuters, AP News, BBC, Snopes, Media Matters for America, Internet Archive