Erika Kirk insists husband Charlie’s murder was not a ‘gun problem’ as she stands behind Second Amendment

Erika Kirk, the chief executive of Turning Point USA, re‑affirmed her strong backing of the Second Amendment and made it clear that her husband’s murder was “not a gun problem.”

She rejected the idea that gun violence was the root cause of the killing, instead attributing it to mental‑health issues and divisive politics.

“What I’ve realized through all of this is that you can have individuals that will always resort to violence. And what I’m afraid of is that we are living in a day and age where they think violence is the solution to them not wanting to hear a different point of view,” she said during The New York Times’ Dealbook Conference on Wednesday.

“That’s not a gun problem, that’s a human—deeply human—problem. That is a soul problem, that is a mental… that is a very deeper issue,” she added.

She also affirmed that she remains a steadfast supporter of the right to bear arms.

“I wouldn’t wish upon anyone what I have been through, and I support the Second Amendment as well,” she said.

The mother of two opened up about her decision to forgive the suspect who gunned down her husband during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

“I don’t expect everyone to understand,” she said. “It’s not because you’re weak, it’s not because you think what the assassin did was correct,” Erika continued.

“That’s the exact opposite. Forgiveness is… for those of you who’ve been wronged, you know what it feels like to forgive someone. And in a way, where it frees you from a poison, and it frees you to be able to think clearly and have a moment where your heart is free and you’re not bound to evil.”

Erika Kirk, a former Miss Arizona USA, took the reins of Turning Point USA—the nonprofit her husband founded—in the wake of his death.