Columbia News

Congressman Mark Alford, who represents Missouri’s 4th district in the U.S. Congress, published an opinion piece in the Washington Examiner addressing the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In his article, Alford called for national unity and healing through faith following the tragedy and emphasized that political violence has no place in America.

“With a single bullet, a sniper silenced the voice of the most vocal, yet compassionate, young conservative in America: Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA.

“This horrific event is not isolated. It follows a chilling pattern of political violence: two assassination attempts on Trump in 2024, the arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) home, the killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., and the assassination of Minnesota state Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband earlier this year. Bipartisan leaders have condemned the killings. Flags fly at half-staff.

“Yet, amid the manhunt and memorials, where candles flicker beside U.S. flags at Utah Valley University, we must confront a deeper truth: America stands at a crossroads. We are more divided than at any other time in our nation’s history since the Civil War.

“Our divisions manifest not just in ballots or debates, but in bullets and violence. Kirk’s death symbolizes how fragile our democratic discourse has become. In an era of echo chambers and algorithmic outrage, where social media amplifies enmity and erodes empathy, we risk turning every disagreement into a declaration of war. The rise in threats against public figures from lawmakers to activists forces us to ask: How did we arrive here? And more urgently, how do we find our way back?

“Our nation needs healing.

“Some 40 years ago, President Ronald Reagan offered a timeless prescription. In a 1984 address, he proclaimed, “The time has come to reassert our trust in God. To realize that we need Him more than He needs us. The time has come to turn to God for the healing of America.” Reagan, who himself survived an assassination attempt in 1981, understood that true restoration begins not with policy alone, but with a spiritual renewal. He urged Americans to reject cynicism and embrace faith, family, and freedom as the bedrock of our republic.

“Today, as we mourn the loss of a man who echoed Reagan’s optimism in rallying the next generation, we must heed that call anew.

“This struggle transcends politics; it is also a spiritual battle. As the Apostle Paul warns in Ephesians 6:12, ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’

“The forces dividing us — fear, resentment, ideological extremism — are not merely human failings but manifestations of deeper principalities that thrive on chaos.

“Kirk’s assassin, hiding in shadows with a rifle, embodies this darkness, but so do the online vitriol and offline hatred that precede such violent acts.

“Words, too, are weapons in this war. We can either inflame or inspire people with our words,but we cannot do both.I choose to inspire,much like Reagan did.We must choose to inspire our fellow citizens and give them hope for future ,not just make America great again but make Americans great again .

“Kirk lived this ethos ,using his platform empower youth ,defend free speech ,champion Judeo-Christian values .

“Let tributes him remind us inspiration begets action hope begets healing .

“We must foster spaces—on campuses,in communities ,across dinner tables—where ideas clash civil debate,instead fists firearms .We must return education ,not indoctrination dialogue ,not demonization .And heart all,a return God Reagan invoked .

“Let Kirk’s legacy ignite flame renewal all us .Turn God .Reject darkness .Heal land ,for healing America,we honor him all victims political violence.”

Alford began serving as representative for Missouri's 4th District after replacing Vicky Hartzler in 2023 [https://alford.house.gov/about]. Born in Baytown Texas in 1963 [https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/mark-alford-59-baytown-texas-1963-lake-winnebago/article_58b38a46-44e8-11ed-bd15-c7c6c9fbcdb5.html], Alford holds a BA from University of Texas at Austin [https://ballotpedia.org/Mark_Alford].