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Freedom of speech isn't tolerated by some

855 replies

WhatNextBanana · 10/09/2025 22:58

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2025/09/10/charlie-kirks-shooting-terrible-moment-american-democracy/

Political violence on the rise.

People are getting angry when people have Political views they don't agree with. Freedom of speech must be allowed not shutdown.

Tragic news of a young family man shot by someone today. Please remember he was a human with a family. Violence is never ok.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
Catssuddenlyappear · 11/09/2025 20:26

AnyoneWhoHasAHeart · 10/09/2025 23:04

Ah yes. This is the man who stated in 2023 that lives need to be lost as part of America’s need to bear arms.

It’s terribly tragic especially for his young children having had to witness this, but let’s be honest here, when people talk about freedom of speech what they generally mean is that they should be allowed to hold and express any abhorrent views they choose without consequence.

Exactly - he spent his whole adult life dehumanising black people, women, gay people and people with disabilities.

You can't spend your life whipping up hate like right-wingers do and then do the surprised Pikachu face when it gets reflected right back at you

TinyIsMyNewt · 11/09/2025 20:28

whattheysay · 11/09/2025 19:54

Surely anyone who agrees with the right to bear arms has to also concede that gun deaths are an acceptable price to pay to have the second amendment, or as Charlie Kirk said ‘worth it’.
Anyone who defends the second amendment has to know deaths will inevitably occur but they don’t care as long as they can still have their guns. Charlie Kirk just said it out loud.
Would he find his own death worth it? Probably not because let’s face it no one wants to actually die for their opinions.

No one should ever be killed or harmed for their views. I don’t agree with a single one of Charlie’s views but I certainly don’t think he deserved to be killed

It's a bit like NIMBYism. "Yes I want these things, and yes, there may be negative consequences for some people - I'm okay with that (as long as it isn't me)."

Shootings like yesterday shouldn't happen, and I suspect that if most 2A advocates knew it was their life, or a life of one of their family members, that would be lost, they wouldn't be so quick to write off preventable deaths as an acceptable cost.

That doesn't mean they deserve to lose their life but, if I had to choose a victim between a prominent gun-owneship advocate, or a young child at school, it's an easy choice.

Of course, I'd rather there were no victims.

Catssuddenlyappear · 11/09/2025 20:35

Thegreatestoftheseislove · 11/09/2025 16:54

Prior to his cold-blooded murder in front of his wife and two young children, I'd never previously heard of Charlie Kirk, aged only 31. His name will now enter the history books.

This thread has been illuminating, but many of the words of untruth spoken about Charlie are not surprising. He appears to me to have been a man who spoke his thoughts and ideas with conviction and passion, but was equally passionate about hearing and discussing opposing views with grace and good humour.

I hope he is now at peace with the God he believed in. I hope those who loved him most will find the peace that passes all understanding, as they deal with the horror they witnessed, and the sudden violent death of their daddy, husband, son, friend. In his words: "When you stop having a human connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to want to commit violence against that group person"

Yeah, I'm sure the theoretical 10 year old he'd force to carry a pregnancy to term; and the Haitians who he whipped up hated against by saying they are dogs really felt like their humanity had been acknowledged by Charlie Kirk.

You're disgusting.

TinyIsMyNewt · 11/09/2025 20:54

Catssuddenlyappear · 11/09/2025 20:35

Yeah, I'm sure the theoretical 10 year old he'd force to carry a pregnancy to term; and the Haitians who he whipped up hated against by saying they are dogs really felt like their humanity had been acknowledged by Charlie Kirk.

You're disgusting.

There is, of course, his involvement in the Jan 6 attempted insurrection, too.

He contributed to the rhetoric and misinformation beforehand, and bussed protestors in. He wasn't directly involved in violence, nor is there a public record of him calling for it (though he did excuse it).

We'd know more about whether or not he knew about or had discussions about potential violence on that day, but, of course, he plead the 5th (exercising his right to avoid self incrimination) when interviewed under subpoena by the Jan 6 committee.

Catssuddenlyappear · 11/09/2025 20:59

TinyIsMyNewt · 11/09/2025 20:54

There is, of course, his involvement in the Jan 6 attempted insurrection, too.

He contributed to the rhetoric and misinformation beforehand, and bussed protestors in. He wasn't directly involved in violence, nor is there a public record of him calling for it (though he did excuse it).

We'd know more about whether or not he knew about or had discussions about potential violence on that day, but, of course, he plead the 5th (exercising his right to avoid self incrimination) when interviewed under subpoena by the Jan 6 committee.

Exactly, he contributed directly to how far the US (and the UK) have sunk.

He was encouraging people to pay bail for the guy who attacked Paul Pelosi and laughing about it.

It's sad for anyone who was there and traumatised by seeing it (even if they're likely to be fash adjacent if they were at a Turning Point thing) but I won't even send thoughts and prayers

Pigeonpoodle · 11/09/2025 21:05

pointythings · 11/09/2025 18:22

I'm not sure what additional context is required for a normal thinking human being to condemn the idea that raped young girls must give birth to their rapist's baby if they end up pregnant. Someone tell me.

If you believe that:

a) life is sacrosanct and should not be taken
b) life starts at conception
c) an individual’s wellbeing doesn’t trump another individual’s right to life;

then CK’s position is very consistent and moral…

Personally, I think this morality is simplistic and flawed, and I certainly wouldn’t want my 10-year old to continue with a pregnancy but, nonetheless, his was a very “moral” position based on fundamental principles about the value of human life, even if I might personally have serious issues with some of the presuppositions that underpin that morality.

So, whereas I might disagree strongly with CK on this, i don’t believe he was an immoral monster for holding those views.

WhereIsMyJumper · 11/09/2025 21:26

“Be kind or I will shoot you in the neck”
The cry of the left.

Mlddleoftheroad · 11/09/2025 21:27

WhatNextBanana · 11/09/2025 17:00

Freedom of speech yes. We all have different opinions and express them. Celebrating someone's death on either right leaning or left leaning no, that's just pure nasty. I think that's why some comments are deleted, they are plain nasty or personal or hate filled rather than freedom of speech - go look up the difference it you are unsure. It's a woman writer (I think)

Edited

Freedom of speech isn't tolerated by some
WhatNextBanana ·

People are getting angry when people have Political views they don't agree with. Freedom of speech must be allowed not shutdown.

This is what op started, the title of the thread and the opening post.

Below is the post they were responding to:

Wait— doesn’t that writer have freedom of speech? Why should he be fired.

Op is happy for posts they don't like to be deleted. Not a true champion of free speech then.

pointythings · 11/09/2025 21:30

Pigeonpoodle · 11/09/2025 21:05

If you believe that:

a) life is sacrosanct and should not be taken
b) life starts at conception
c) an individual’s wellbeing doesn’t trump another individual’s right to life;

then CK’s position is very consistent and moral…

Personally, I think this morality is simplistic and flawed, and I certainly wouldn’t want my 10-year old to continue with a pregnancy but, nonetheless, his was a very “moral” position based on fundamental principles about the value of human life, even if I might personally have serious issues with some of the presuppositions that underpin that morality.

So, whereas I might disagree strongly with CK on this, i don’t believe he was an immoral monster for holding those views.

Nope. That's not morality. Some things are absolute. Just because a belief is internally consistent that doesn't make it exempt from being monstrous or immoral dye to its content. By your logic, the Nazi ideology of racial purity was also OK.

Catssuddenlyappear · 11/09/2025 21:32

WhereIsMyJumper · 11/09/2025 21:26

“Be kind or I will shoot you in the neck”
The cry of the left.

Except there's literally no evidence that the shooter was from 'the left'.

Nobody asked him to be kind either; but don't let that stop you making up things to get mad about.

justasking111 · 11/09/2025 21:37

This thread started out reasonably now folks have crossed the road from the other bunfight it's disintegrated. Shame but to be expected I suppose.

It's quite tame compared to comments made on Instagram and some USA media. A nest of vipers over there.

TinyIsMyNewt · 11/09/2025 21:38

For all the ranting and raving about the left, let's not forget that political violence and murders are usually associated with the extreme right.

Freedom of speech isn't tolerated by some
WhereIsMyJumper · 11/09/2025 21:47

Catssuddenlyappear · 11/09/2025 21:32

Except there's literally no evidence that the shooter was from 'the left'.

Nobody asked him to be kind either; but don't let that stop you making up things to get mad about.

Well done for completing misunderstanding what I said.

WhereIsMyJumper · 11/09/2025 21:48

TinyIsMyNewt · 11/09/2025 21:38

For all the ranting and raving about the left, let's not forget that political violence and murders are usually associated with the extreme right.

Ah phew!! Ah that’s ok then. In that case, it’s a good thing that he was shot!

(sarcasm, in case that’s lost on you)

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 11/09/2025 21:49

WhereIsMyJumper · 11/09/2025 21:26

“Be kind or I will shoot you in the neck”
The cry of the left.

"Agree with me or I'll pretend to be a police officer so I can repeatedly shoot you and your husband in your house"
The cry of the right.

WhereIsMyJumper · 11/09/2025 21:50

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 11/09/2025 21:49

"Agree with me or I'll pretend to be a police officer so I can repeatedly shoot you and your husband in your house"
The cry of the right.

What?

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 11/09/2025 21:51

WhereIsMyJumper · 11/09/2025 21:50

What?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_shootings_of_Minnesota_legislators

You don't remember? What a surprise.

pointythings · 11/09/2025 21:59

WhereIsMyJumper · 11/09/2025 21:50

What?

Look, you starter with a goady 'the cry of the left' post. You should not be surprised if you are called on it with, you know, actual data.

SewNotHappy · 11/09/2025 22:08

Dangermoos · 11/09/2025 07:44

I doubt his killer will be excused. Hopefully they face the death penalty.

But what if he was provoked as you were? Surely you wouldn't expect special treatment just for yourself to ignore rules and laws...

Pigeonpoodle · 11/09/2025 22:26

pointythings · 11/09/2025 21:30

Nope. That's not morality. Some things are absolute. Just because a belief is internally consistent that doesn't make it exempt from being monstrous or immoral dye to its content. By your logic, the Nazi ideology of racial purity was also OK.

Edited

Sanctity of life is pretty absolute!

Just because you have issues with it, as do I, doesn’t mean CK didn’t have a strict moral code that emphasised that value of life over everything else.

Your morality prioritises the wellbeing of a 10-year old. His morality prioritised the right to life of another person (and he - rightly or wrongly - believed that a foetus was a person). You might believe he was monstrous to let a 10-year old suffer. He might have believed you were monstrous for killing a person.

You are both being “moral”, but from different standpoints. That’s very different from being “immoral” - where you behave in a way you know isn’t moral, but do it anyway, or “amoral” - where you don’t have a concept of right or wrong.

You could even argue that CK was very moral in this regard, as there would be many people, especially Christians, who would accept the three principles I outlined in my previous post… but would nonetheless act against their morals to protect their child, even though their morality would hold that preventing their child’s suffering was a less important principle than not taking life.

Mustbethat · 11/09/2025 22:30

Pigeonpoodle · 11/09/2025 22:26

Sanctity of life is pretty absolute!

Just because you have issues with it, as do I, doesn’t mean CK didn’t have a strict moral code that emphasised that value of life over everything else.

Your morality prioritises the wellbeing of a 10-year old. His morality prioritised the right to life of another person (and he - rightly or wrongly - believed that a foetus was a person). You might believe he was monstrous to let a 10-year old suffer. He might have believed you were monstrous for killing a person.

You are both being “moral”, but from different standpoints. That’s very different from being “immoral” - where you behave in a way you know isn’t moral, but do it anyway, or “amoral” - where you don’t have a concept of right or wrong.

You could even argue that CK was very moral in this regard, as there would be many people, especially Christians, who would accept the three principles I outlined in my previous post… but would nonetheless act against their morals to protect their child, even though their morality would hold that preventing their child’s suffering was a less important principle than not taking life.

How can you argue that CK valued the sanctity of life over everything, when he valued the second amendment over children’s lives?

he publicly stated that firearm deaths were an acceptable price to pay.

all those children, all the families of children who went to school and didn’t come home. Those deaths are preferable to losing their right to bear arms?

Charlie Kirk’s death, in his own words, is an acceptable consequence of gun ownership.

if you saw the horrific video of what a gunshot does, now think of what it does to childrens bodies, and what their parents have to see.

WhatNextBanana · 11/09/2025 22:38

GetOffMyLan · 11/09/2025 18:58

I never purported to be either actually and yeah, I'm not upset over the death of a person who incited hate and profited from the deaths of others. Do you get this upset when all terrorists are killed or just the white ones I wonder? 🙄

He wasn't a terrorist. You might not like his views but he wasn't a terrorist. You seem badly misinformed.

OP posts:
WhatNextBanana · 11/09/2025 22:41

Mlddleoftheroad · 11/09/2025 21:27

Freedom of speech isn't tolerated by some
WhatNextBanana ·

People are getting angry when people have Political views they don't agree with. Freedom of speech must be allowed not shutdown.

This is what op started, the title of the thread and the opening post.

Below is the post they were responding to:

Wait— doesn’t that writer have freedom of speech? Why should he be fired.

Op is happy for posts they don't like to be deleted. Not a true champion of free speech then.

What on earth you waffling on about.

OP posts:
Petrolitis · 11/09/2025 22:46

WhatNextBanana · 10/09/2025 22:58

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2025/09/10/charlie-kirks-shooting-terrible-moment-american-democracy/

Political violence on the rise.

People are getting angry when people have Political views they don't agree with. Freedom of speech must be allowed not shutdown.

Tragic news of a young family man shot by someone today. Please remember he was a human with a family. Violence is never ok.

Please post a link to the thread you created when Melissa Hortman was shot @WhatNextBanana

Or Jo Cox if you're a British user?

You must have made one mustn't you? After those shocking politically motivated assassinations?

Because this post just seems like more right wing propaganda trying to stir up American style populism.

Oh and just so you know Britain is culturally a pretty liberal place on the whole and traditionally we aren't a nation of flag obsessed knuckle draggers. If mumsnet users want to point out that cunts are trying to use our flag to promote rascism, hate and division and comment that they don't like it happening it doesn't mean they are nasty. Quite the opposite.

Honestly it sounds like you've got you're talking points direct from Trump.

If you want to worry about out freedom of speech disappearing, about the death of democracy and the disintegration of a nation worry about Merika.

LuckySpark · 11/09/2025 22:54

pointythings · 11/09/2025 21:30

Nope. That's not morality. Some things are absolute. Just because a belief is internally consistent that doesn't make it exempt from being monstrous or immoral dye to its content. By your logic, the Nazi ideology of racial purity was also OK.

Edited

How does explaining Kirk's pro-life position also explain that Nazi ideology of racial purity ok? Genuinely interested to understand the reasoning.

He did take his beliefs on human life to the logical conclusion, but so too I have seen pro-choice advocates taking their views about a women's right to control their own bodies to the logical conclusion, whereby women should be free to have an abortion until birth. A position that is not uncommon in feminist circles (and an opinion I, for a while, held), but is certainly considered extreme by many (most?) people.

The idea of letting a 10 year old suffer pregnancy is abhorrent, but while I think it is a no-brainer when we are talking about a collection of cells, I am not sure I would think it is a no-brainer if the pregnancy was discovered in the months approaching birth.

Kirk considered the same issues of personal liberty, right to life and the need to avoid suffering that everyone else considers in reaching their views on these issues.

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