September 11, 2025

Dear John,

This is a difficult day in America.

Lawlessness, violence, and bloodshed have become so frequent in American life that very little shocks our collective conscience. Yet the assassination of Charlie Kirk yesterday -- as he peacefully engaged in dialogue on a university campus -- has stunned all of us, along with millions of Americans across the political spectrum. Here at Family Research Council, we are heartbroken and praying for Charlie's wife, Erika, their young children, and the Turning Point USA team. May God's promises and grace comfort them as they navigate this tremendous loss.

Below are some thoughts that I shared with the FRC team yesterday, as we collectively process this moment.

It is an incredibly emotionally charged moment for the country. Charlie's death comes after we have watched the horrific slaughter of a young Ukrainian woman aboard a commuter train in Charlotte, NC. ... Our nation's leaders need our prayers as they make decisions for the country and shepherd the American people through a dark time.

It is important that we, as believers and representatives of Jesus in a Christian organization, exercise and demonstrate the work of the Spirit who gives us "power, love, and a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) We are not to fear, nor are we to mirror the bitterness of our age.

We must recognize that while our earthly battles are waged in political and cultural arenas, the roots are spiritual. Without confronting the spiritual decay at the heart of our crisis, no policy or program will suffice. Scripture provides clear understanding to the people of God: the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to pull down strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4)

We must speak truth with conviction, but also with love that disarms hatred. If our nation is to heal, we cannot answer anger with anger or bloodshed with more bloodshed. Justice must be upheld, lawlessness restrained, and truth defended -- but the cycle of hatred must be broken. That can only happen when love -- rooted in eternal truth -- guides our actions.

Today, on Patriot Day (9/11), we are reminded of the very real evil that seeks to destroy freedom and those who enjoy and protect it. Charlie championed our constitutional and God-given freedoms, and he leaves that legacy to a whole new generation.

There are still many questions, and we will never make sense of the senseless this side of heaven, but we can be certain that what man intends for evil, God will use for good.

May a watching world see that "the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5)

Standing (Eph. 6:13),

Tony Perkins
President, Family Research Council