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Free speech has always come with a price. Unfortunately, now that price has started looking a lot more like a body count.
It started off in the 1990s as political correctness. Then, during the COVID years, it evolved into cancel culture, marked by lost jobs, public shaming, deplatforming, and the destruction of businesses, among other consequences. But now? We’re entering the next and far more dangerous phase of silencing people with different opinions. People aren’t just being canceled anymore. They’re being physically attacked—and in some cases, killed—for what they believe, say, or represent.
That shift didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s been building for decades. From the soft policing of language in the ’90s to social media mobs in the 2010s, we now find ourselves staring down the barrel of what I can only describe as “Kill Culture.” And that’s the hook here: this isn’t a theory or a trend piece—it’s the reality we’re all walking through right now, whether we choose to see it or not.”
If you think this is still about online outrage and petty cancellations, you’re already a few chapters behind. The rules of engagement have changed—and free speech now comes with a body count.
TL;DR: Kill Culture is here. Free speech isn’t just being silenced—it’s being shot. Here’s how we got here and what comes next.
Quick Look at What You’ll Learn
The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: A Turning Point
As everyone knows, on September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk—founder of Turning Point USA—was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. One bullet to the neck from a rooftop shooter ended the life of the prominent and beloved, 31-year-old conservative voice in front of 3,000 people.
His killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, turned himself in days later. The rifle round used was engraved with a sexually explicit meme tied to the trans community—a detail that poured fuel on the fire for both sides. It’s also been confirmed that Robinson was living with and in a relationship with a male that is “transitioning” to a female.
The Reactions
The Right’s reaction to Kirk’s assassination was, as would be expected, heavy and solemn. Thousands stood in line at vigils, attended church services, or simply sat in stunned silence, watching the news. The grief was raw, the sense of loss and depression about where we can go from here all too real.
The Left’s reaction to Kirk’s assassination has ranged from silence to outright mockery. While mainstream Democratic politicians offered carefully worded condolences, they largely avoided calling the event what it was—a political assassination. Progressive influencers online either ignored the story entirely or framed it as a response to right-wing “hate speech.” Some used the opportunity to deflect, bringing up conservative controversies as if to justify or redirect attention from the killing.
More concerning were the posts celebrating his death. Social media was and still is littered with memes, gifs, and hot takes, essentially mocking the idea that Kirk’s life had value. For a vocal portion of the far left, the assassination was seen not as a tragedy, but as a deserved outcome.
The Pendulum Swing
That attacks and venom towards Kirk reinforced what many on the Right already believed: that to the activist Left, nothing is off limits when it comes to silencing conservative opinions. And when celebration follows a sniper shot, the message it sends is plain to see: violence is fine to suppress the opinions and voices of others. As one can imagine, that is being met with calls for violence in return.
While one side laughed and cheered, the other said enough, and is digging in their heels—ready to meet violence with violence. The message wasn’t shouted, but it rang across social media: something fundamental had changed. We’ve now moved from Cancel Culture to Kill Culture, and with it, closer to a societal flashover.
📣 Reference Article:The Independent noted how fast the shooting video spread—and how some were already calling it “the start of a civil war.”
How We Got Here
- Political Correctness (1990s): Began as a cultural push to be more sensitive and inclusive. Double Speak sounds harmless, right?
- Cancel Culture (2010s – 2020s): You say the “wrong” thing, and the internet tries to erase you. People lost jobs, reputations, and livelihoods over articles, tweets, and soundbites. This ravaged many brands in the preparedness space. My brand and others, such as the Organic Prepper, have felt the effects of cancel culture.
- Kill Culture (Now): We’ve crossed into a territory where people are rationalizing, committing—even celebrating—violence against those they disagree with. While the Left has been elevating the political violence game, the Right in response is moving closer to the point of no return as well. Tempers are hot.
Each step in this anti-Freedom progression of censorship and controlled speech has chipped away at our open and free discourse and dialed up the stakes for speaking freely. We’ve moved past the UK, where speaking your mind about immigration, rape culture, and societal problems can result in lengthy jail sentences. Now, in the United States, the cost of free speech might be your life—literally.
It’s Not Just About Charlie
Kirk’s assassination is the current high-profile example, but it wasn’t the first. And it won’t be the last.
- In 2024, Donald Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt, with a second attempt being stopped before a shot was fired.
- In late 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed in what was later deemed a politically motivated attack.
- Earlier this year, two Minnesota state lawmakers and their spouses were shot, with two perishing in what authorities described as a politically motivated, premeditated assassination attack.
- In Pennsylvania, Cody Allen Balmer tried to assassinate Governor Josh Shapiro by firebombing his residence while the family was inside. Balmer, who was arrested on the scene, cited Shapiro’s Israel-Palestine stance as his motive.
These incidents didn’t receive national attention for long, but within some observant circles, such as the prepping community, they were seen as yet another sign of escalation, where political disagreement is no longer just verbal sparring, but something people are willing to kill over.
Many are loud and clear—speak out against the cultural narrative, and you might pay the price not in reputation, but in blood.
This past year alone, we’ve seen a disturbing uptick in targeted killings—from elected officials to CEOs to activists. And while not every case makes headlines, the pattern is hard to miss—more and more people are becoming okay with committing violence over political beliefs.
In turn, those who feel they are being targeted with doxing, assassination attempts, and death for their beliefs are, more and more, ready to meet violence with violence. Unfortunately, it’s at this point that the tit for tat of retribution can lead to an escalation of violent actions. When that happens, as history has shown, people on both sides wind up dead.
We’re in the Pre-Violence Phase of Civil Conflict
We’re watching the boiling point creep higher.
- On the left, aggressive behavior has been normalized in response to disagreement. The idea that you can shout down, harass, or assault people who don’t align with you has been gaining traction for years.
- On the right, people see Charlie Kirk’s murder as a signal that it’s time to stand up and fight. So much so that people are now showing up to vigils and events with body armor and rifles.
That’s a recipe for a full serving of disastrous circumstances.
Because when people on both sides feel morally justified to act—and are angry and convinced the other side wants them dead—it doesn’t take much to turn a mediocre shouting match in the street, into a firefight.
The Danger of Political and Religious Events
To start with, I am NOT saying not to go to events. That’s on you, your beliefs, and your desires. What I am saying, though, is that the situation is dangerous enough to make it mandatory for those concerned with their survival to make well-informed decisions about any events that you’re considering.
Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, some conservatives have taken it upon themselves to act as ad-hoc security at vigils and memorials—with posts on X showing visibly armed vigil goers, kitted out in tactical vests and body armor, an M4, and appearing to be ready for a fight.
Their intent is clear: protect their community, deter threats, and send a message that they won’t be intimidated.
But here’s the problem: without communication, coordination, or planning, this kind of improvised security force can quickly spiral into something unpredictable—and deadly if rounds start to fly. Imagine a dozen people with loaded rifles, all ready to react in different, unrehearsed ways should something happen.
That’s when bystanders get shot. That’s when someone panics and shoots the wrong person. And that’s when tragedy happens.
And there’s a darker possibility too: a bad actor could disguise themselves as them. The average person can’t tell the difference between a responsibly armed volunteer and an agitator doing their best MAGA impersonation. All it takes is one or two individuals—dressed for the part, blending into the group—to open fire from within. The resulting chaos wouldn’t just be horrific. It would be nearly impossible to contain.
The Risk Has Spread
This threat isn’t limited to conservative events. It’s not about Charlie Kirk. It’s about how quickly lunatics are becoming okay with using violence to shut people up and opinions down.
Disagree with someone? Just make them go away.
This mindset is bleeding into everything:
- School board meetings
- Church services
- Podcasts and online communities
- College lectures
- Even backyard barbecues
If people are afraid to speak their minds, or worse, feel they need a gun just to do it safely, we’re no longer a free society. We’re a society on the edge.
What You Can Do
- Be aware: Situational awareness isn’t paranoia. It’s paying attention.
- Avoid hot zones: Some events may simply be too risky. Know which ones those are.
- Don’t escalate: If you’re carrying a firearm, your responsibility is to de-escalate and defend. If things pop off, get down and get out of the way.
- Train for chaos: Don’t just carry. Practice. React under stress. Know your limits. Put yourself in the mental position and ask yourself, “What if?”
- Have a plan: Whether you’re attending a vigil or going to church, discuss what you’d do if something happened. Consider this in advance and position yourself in the safest location possible.
- Top up your preps: If there are any preps (and I imagine there are) that you know are lacking. Take care of them if you’re able. Be prepared, in case things escalate.
The Bottom Line on Kill Culture
We’re walking a societal tightrope right now. And the rope is fraying.
There was a time when disagreeing with someone meant debating them and agreeing to disagree. Cancel culture tried to replace debate with shame. Kill culture is trying to replace all of it with death.
I don’t know what the answer is. However, I do know that if we keep heading down this path, it will lead to nowhere good.
The more that violence is normalized and accepted as the solution to differences of opinion, the more violent our society will become. That means the more violence our families, friends, and loved ones will experience—and be affected by.
Sure, you may be willing to lay down your life for your right to Free Speech—I get it. However, this, and where it is going, leads to laying down the lives of your family, your sons, daughters, wives, husbands, friends, and so on.
Don’t get swept up in the chaos. Don’t feed the fire. But don’t pretend it isn’t burning, either. This is the world we live in. Hopefully, it’s a world from which we can recover.
Additional Resources
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