LT3 Releases Statement Following the Charlie Kirk Assassination
From Executive Director Jordan Estrada:
“As I study the news reports from the assassination of Charlie Kirk, I find it difficult to separate this incident from the other forms of public violence LT3 exists to prevent. While not a "mass shooting," a public assassination shares many factors in common with mass violence. In particular, the level of anger required to commit an assassination is indistinguishable from the levels of anger we see in mass shooters. The goal of mass shooters is often to shock and traumatize a community and a nation -- achieving lasting infamy. A public assassination accomplishes the same results -- allowing the perpetrator to receive the same level of notoriety that many mass shooters crave. But there's something else that's weighing on me . . .
While mass shootings continue to be devastating and tragic, there's a growing national desensitization to this form of violence. Media outlets report about "another mass shooting," and dejected analysts compile statistics. Many people are too tired and/or depressed to follow the story. If the goal of violence is to shock and appall, then potential perpetrators will naturally look for other equally shocking and freshly appalling modes of violence. And now, the public assassination of high-profile figures is on the table as a means for angry, depressed, and socially-isolated individuals to express their dissatisfaction with the world. Potential copycats may draw perverse inspiration from the assassinations of Charlie Kirk, Melissa Hortman, and the United Health Care CEO, or the nauseating stabbing of Iryna Zarutska. All of these are horrific events that may serve as the blueprint for future violence. We've seen this type of trend before – it's been present ever since the mass shooting at Columbine. And with history as our guide, we need to act now.
As violent subcultures innovate in their own dark, evil ways, we also must innovate in response. LT3 has always been about innovative solutions to end violence -- and as a continuation of our work, we are leaning into the challenge posed by public assassinations. This is a natural extension of our mission, and we are currently devoting resources to understanding, researching, and figuring out how to confront what we see as an emerging "assassination culture." This will include:
Research and analysis to study the prevalence, magnitude, and intersectionality of ideation on assassination
A deep dive into the mindset of assassination perpetrators to discover the best strategies for deterring and off-ramping potential assassins -- the same exercise we continually engage in for stopping mass murder, but with a focus on the growth of this subculture into assassinations, as well
Engaging with partners and networks to promote and guide best practices for including assassination prevention in the overall framework of mass violence prevention”