Thoughts, Prayers and Hypocrisy

Lately, I’ve been struggling with empathy. And I know what you’re probably thinking, “Karinna? Struggling with empathy? That’s your bread and butter.” You’re not wrong. But in light of recent events, empathy has felt… almost impossible. So let’s dive in.

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated in front of the world. And yet my compassion for him is close to non-existent.

I did not agree with a single thing Kirk stood for. His platform promoted hatred under the disguise of “Christian love.” Don’t get it twisted, I condemn ALL acts of gun violence and political violence. Full stop. No exceptions. But the irony is undeniable: Kirk once said at a 2023 TPUSA Faith event, “I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year, so that we can have the 2nd Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal.” In my eyes, he died for what he stood for.

And to add to the bitter irony, the man who killed him was a 22-year-old, Tyler Robinson. Though Robinson wasn’t registered with any political party, it’s clear his family was tied to MAGA circles. Still, when news of Kirk’s assassination broke, President Trump immediately vowed to unleash the weight of his administration against so-called “radical left political violence.” LOL boy, was he wrong.

As my feed filled with sympathy posts, memorial videos, and “RIP Charlie” messages, even from close friends - I felt the ick. Anger started bubbling up. Crying? For him? For a man who wouldn’t shed a tear if it were you? Showing compassion for someone who spent his career spreading hate feels impossible to me.

And yet, let me say this again: I CONDEMN ALL ACTS OF GUN AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE. But here’s my real question: where is this energy when our people are killed?

Where was this outrage when State Rep. Melissa Hortman, her husband, and even their dog were murdered in their own home for their political views? Where’s the empathy for the kids dying in our schools every damn week? On the same day Kirk was killed, there was a school shooting in Colorado—yet the administration sent VP Vance to Utah and lowered flags to half-staff for Kirk, not the children. Make it make sense. The priorities are completely upside down.

We Need Gun Reform.

Listen, y’all—I’m a hardcore Democrat, but I’m also a gun owner. And I’m begging for gun reform. I’m tired. I’m exhausted. I am DONE hearing “thoughts and prayers.” Miss me with that bullshit. We don’t need platitudes; we need policy.

For the love of God, give us:

• Universal background checks

• Psychological evaluations

• Red flag laws

• A 21+ age requirement (hell, I’d make it 25, since that’s when your frontal lobe fully develops, but that’s just me)

Meanwhile, the Gun Violence Archive reports 301 mass shootings and 10 mass murders in 2025 alone. And people are outraged about Charlie Kirk—but not about that? The hypocrisy is staggering.

So yeah… empathy has been hard for me lately. And maybe that makes me human. Maybe it makes me tired. But I refuse to be silent while politicians and pundits cherry-pick whose lives are worth mourning.

Because until we get real reform, until we confront gun violence everywhere, everytime, the cycle of violence continues. And no amount of “thoughts and prayers” is going to save us.

Remember, two things can be true at the same time...

For her always,

Karinna