this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2025
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Republicans and Democrats, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nancy Mace, are canceling events and taking other security precautions.

The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is sending shock waves through Capitol Hill, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle expressing fears for their own safety and taking greater security precautions following a summer of political violence.

Members are beefing up their security, moving public events indoors or canceling them altogether. One is even vowing to carry firearms.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., the progressive star who has faced numerous death threats over the years, said Thursday she had postponed two public events planned for this weekend in North Carolina, including a rally in Raleigh set for Sunday.

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[–] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Nothing will meaningfully improve until the rich fear for their lives.

Both sides

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago

Both sides

So sad you have to say that because most people are so dumb they think billionaires are plebs like us picking sides instead of playing both.

[–] Runaway@lemmy.zip 23 points 1 day ago (2 children)

AOC is fearing retaliation, justifiably so given her colleagues. Just about anyone else? good. honestly a bit of fear of the masses might do good

[–] Canconda@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Only in America do they consider shooting their elected representatives before electing different ones /s

America is a weird dichotomy, where congressional approval ratings as a whole are in the toilet… But approval ratings among individual representatives with their constituents is fairly high. Generally speaking, people like their own representatives, even though they dislike congress as a whole. Basically, every single person is going “it’s all the other voters’ fault that congress is so broken.”

If AOC was getting a death threat, it statistically wasn’t from someone in her own district, because her constituents like her.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 2 points 23 hours ago

It's just strange to me that the basis of all of it is that Kirk didn't believe people should be treated equally, nor have equal rights, and that people should be persecuted for being different.

And A LOT of people think that him going on school campuses and trying to convince as many young people as he could of that was proper.

[–] leftzero@lemmy.dbzer0.com 73 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Members of Congress fear for their safety after Charlie Kirk assassination

Good.

The people shouldn't be afraid of their government.

The government should be afraid of the people.

[–] cmhe@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago (2 children)

They should be afraid of the people, but not of individuals with guns or money to hire contract killers.

Kirk's death was a public assassination. There are many easier for ways someone can kill an unsuspecting target. The way the killer escaped makes it likely they where professional or otherwise trained, not just crazy. The killer choose a difficult and public way to kill him, meaning it is more then just about killing Krik. It is clearly a message, question is what message and to whom.

[–] ubergeek@lemmy.today 7 points 1 day ago (3 children)

They should be afraid of the people, but not of individuals with guns or money to hire contract killers.

No, they should be afraid of that too, just like every other citizen in this country.

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[–] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 day ago

"fuck this guy in particular" - to everyone

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Should be more concerned with trump throwing dems in a gulag than getting shot.

[–] Thom@discuss.online 7 points 1 day ago

Trump will use the gun violence to justify such gulag. Democrats are enduring abuse and they are helpless. Something's gotta crack

[–] mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de 151 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (5 children)

If AOC is cancelling events it's because of fear of retaliatory action on the right, but NBC won't title it in such an honest way.

Also, "one is even vowing to carry firearms" lmao. I'm all for people's right to bear arms, but it doesn't protect you individually from an assassin. What, if only Kirk had a pistol on him, he could have whipped it out and shot the other bullet in half before it hit him, like the fucking Matrix?

[–] PwnTra1n@lemmy.world 42 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Had someone tell me they had a problem cuz he wasn’t even able to defend himself. The gymnastics to not blame gun violence when he was literally shot while talking about shootings.

[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Shot immediately after finishing a sentence in which he spouted racist dog whistle bullshit about the predominant demographics of mass shooters, as he was sitting under an easy-up emblazoned with PROVE ME WRONG.

The marksman:

okay, well, since you asked so nicely…

Genuinely, the comedic timing was jaw-droppingly impeccable.

[–] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not sure if this is official onion or not, but this one hit bullseye.

Ngl the memes about Artery Charlie are just absolute 🔥🔥🔥

[–] mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de 23 points 1 day ago (2 children)

It's always depressing yet eye-opening to hear the opinions of people at the grassroots. The average citizen of America truly is so unfathomably dumb. Even the lower class of the 1700s probably had better critical thinking skills. We might even be setting all time records here.

[–] frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 23 hours ago

There are some arguments, like the "not able to defend himself" one, that are so mindbogglingly stupid that I don't even know what to say in response.

Which might be their rhetorical purpose.

[–] krashmo@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

People have always been this dumb as a whole. We're apes who decided talking shit to each other is better than throwing shit at each other. If a few dozen of us hadn't gotten lucky enough to figure out some amazing things over the centuries we'd all still be praying to the god of the hunt to bring back the buffalo herd next season so we don't starve to death.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

There's a good book called "Not for Profit" came out around 2010 and describes how the systematic erosion of arts/literature, the Humanties, from school systems, is being replaced by bare minimum to train workers. Creating a dumb population that can't think for themselves, makes it easy for government control with no resistance

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[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

And to take up the gun-nuts usual spiel: this time, the people had the good guy with the gun to defend them against Kirk.

[–] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 15 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Not just for assassins. Carrying a gun is negative for your physical safety in general.

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 9 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I believe you, but can we see the stats behind that statement?

[–] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/research-reports/gun-violence-in-the-united-states

Carrying firearms in public also increases the risk for violence by escalating minor arguments and increasing the chances that a confrontation will become lethal. Research has found that even the mere presence of a firearm increases aggressive thoughts and actions.20 

Some believe that carrying a firearm will act as a deterrent and help prevent conflicts or minimize harm. While there are specific examples where this was true, there are many more cases where firearm carrying escalates conflict and leads to firearm injury or death. In aggregate, research shows firearm carrying increases levels of violent crime.21

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The commenter may provide a link but if you at an overview take a look at Canada vs USA. In Canada you can get your gun license at 12 for using a firearm, and need to be maybe 16 or 18(I forget) to purchase one. But we don't have a gun culture of carrying in public. Then look at the USA. Not only is everyone gun happy, they actually live in fear. Gun deaths are often from their own gun used on them.
It also gives every gun toter a false sense of security, and Imma be a hero mentality, leading to deaths.

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[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

AOC has had a target on her for years.

[–] Cruxifux@feddit.nl 9 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Just tell chuck schumer to take over for all her events.

[–] Zugyuk@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

We don't need that many letters 🤣

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[–] threeonefour@piefed.ca 68 points 1 day ago (3 children)

They shouldn't be allowed to feel safe going to work until kids feel safe going to school.

I'd argue they shouldn't feel safe until they start to defend the constitution

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[–] SereneSadie@lemmy.myserv.one 57 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

They still won't get what it's like for LGBT+ people under their terrorist reigime.

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 14 points 1 day ago

Yeah i don't just fear for myself and my family, I fear for my people. That friends I haven't seen in years will be struck down and I won't know until day of remembrance

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[–] hayvan@feddit.nl 4 points 23 hours ago
[–] Cruxifux@feddit.nl 27 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I am not going to shed a single tear for American politicians being scared for their lives.

Exactly, they haven't worked for "the people" for decades now.

[–] skooma_king@piefed.social 45 points 1 day ago (2 children)

We must spy on everyone at all times, but we know the answers to nothing.

[–] postmateDumbass@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

*They arent giving away the answers for nothing.

[–] sepi@piefed.social 17 points 1 day ago
[–] P00ptart@lemmy.world 28 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] enkille@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago

a ralleigh!

[–] ambiguous_yelp@lemmy.blahaj.zone 38 points 1 day ago (1 children)

People shouldn't be afraid of their governments governments should be afraid of their people - V For Vendetta

[–] PhilipTheBucket@piefed.social 23 points 1 day ago

They are afraid. That's why all the nonsense, and calling out the National Guard and whatnot.

[–] SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 day ago

" I don't understand these lefties..if there is no bread, just eat cake!"

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago

Ah, suddenly 2A looses it's appeal?

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 21 points 1 day ago

They could stop being monsters right now. They could make different choices.

We'll know more after the midterms.

[–] Marshezezz@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 1 day ago

Meh 🤷‍♂️ sucks to feel fear, doesn’t it?

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