General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumsat this stage, it's a republican talking point that kirk's shooter's motives were political and partisan.
it's not unreasonable to guess that the killing of a prominent politically divisive figure might be political, but at this stage that's merely one of several possibilities.
without a suspect in custody, without a manifesto, without really anything to go on other than who the victim was, we really don't know.
famous people get death threats all the time, and sometimes there are actual attempts, and sometimes these attempt result in a death. so it's entirely plausible that this was just a killer seeking notoriety by killing someone famous. nothing to do with politics in particular, just that fact that kirk was famous, which some sick people figure will give themselves a moment in the spotlight.
it's also entirely possible that the killer knew something we don't know about kirk. many killings involve a personal connection, and just because someone is famous doesn't mean they're immune from that. business disputes or infidelities or other personal grievances can result in violence and even death.
we may well find out that the motives were political. in fact, i'm willing to guess that this is the leading theory. but that's only speculation at this stage, and republicans are milking it by flooding the zone with accusations against their usual targets.
if it turns out that kirk had an affair and an angry spouse did him in, it would theoretically ruin all republican attacks on democrats in this matter, but the damage will have already been done, many people cling to the first theory they hear about, contrary to all later evidence, especially if it confirms their worldview.
never mind that even if it was politically motivated, there's still plenty of room for it being done by a right-wing extremist who thinks kirk wasn't fascist enough or didn't support donnie enough.

Walleye
(42,586 posts)Was Kirk also known to mess around with girls like many of the rest of the men in his party? In that case it couldve been a father. It could be almost anything, a property dispute etc. . The only exercise Trump gets is leaping to conclusions. And theyre usually wrong. I cant imagine how anybody on the Democratic side could think it would be an advantage to shoot this guy ,or anybody for that matter. Shooting him wont stop anything. I could almost see shooting Stephen Miller.
tinrobot
(11,780 posts)Using it as a way to send a message to conservatives arguing for their release.
Or it could be an angry liberal, angry conservative, business partner, spurned lover, random psycho. Who knows. The only certainty is that there were plenty of people who did not like what that man was doing.
Walleye
(42,586 posts)Thats why I thought it was personal. We will find out, maybe, I dont know this FBI seems like a bunch of stumblebums
CatWoman
(80,153 posts)Charlie Kirk Assassins Ammo Engraved With Transgender, Anti-Fascist Markings: WSJ
https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/charlie-kirk-assassins-ammo-engraved-with-transgender-anti-fascist-markings-wsj/
Ammunition cartridges recovered along with the bolt-action rifle used in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were scrawled with transgender and anti-fascist messages, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The rifle was recovered Wednesday night in a wooded area where the FBI believes the killer fled after the shooting.
It was wrapped in a towel and had three unused ammo cartridges still in the chamber. Each was engraved with expressions of transgender and antifascist ideology, the Journal reported, citing an internal law-enforcement bulletin and a person familiar with the investigation.
Walleye
(42,586 posts)Ive never heard of transgender ideology.