Erika Kirk explains why husband Charlie being fatally shot is not a ‘gun problem’

Charlie Kirk’s widow says she does not believe the United States has a “gun problem,” despite her husband being shot and killed in September.

Kirk, a conservative activist, was fatally shot during a Republican event he was hosting at Utah Valley University, where around 3,000 people—including his wife Erika and their two young children—were present.

The suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, allegedly fired a single round at the 31-year-old before being arrested. Even after the tragedy, Erika argues that guns are not to blame for her husband’s death.

Speaking at the New York Times’ DealBook Conference on December 3, she said the real issue lies in the attacker’s mindset and the broader culture of political hostility.

She explained that some people will always turn to violence, adding that the real problem is “human and deeply emotional,” not related to firearms themselves.

Investigators have pointed to messages Robinson sent to his roommate, suggesting he targeted Kirk because of political hatred. The suspect also claimed he opposed Kirk’s views and believed violence was justified.

Despite the circumstances, Erika says she still strongly supports the Second Amendment and previously stated that she forgave Robinson just days after the shooting, describing forgiveness as something that frees a person from hatred and emotional “poison.”