House Dispute Erupts After Prayer for Charlie Kirk, Highlighting Deep Partisan Divide
WASHINGTON – A moment of silence intended too honor conservative influencer Charlie Kirk following his shooting at a Utah university devolved into a shouting match on the House floor Wednesday, exposing simmering tensions between Republicans and Democrats over responses to gun violence. The disruption occurred after Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., suggested a vocal prayer, rather than silence, to honor kirk and the victims of a separate school shooting in Evergreen, Colorado.
The initial moment of silence was met with objections from Democratic lawmakers, who argued the House had not offered similar expressions of support following other instances of gun violence, particularly school shootings. Rep. Rich mccormick, R-Ga.,acknowledged the validity of that perspective but lamented the ensuing attention,stating,”That’s a microcosm of exactly what’s wrong with America – too many people blaming,rather than too many people praying.”
Kirk, a prominent Republican figure credited with assisting Donald Trump’s presidential campaigns, was shot while attending a debate forum at Utah Valley University. Authorities are still searching for the shooter, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has labeled the incident a political assassination. Concurrently, two students were shot at Evergreen High School in Colorado.
Boebert defended her call for prayer, arguing, “I believe that silent prayers get silent results. If you are silent, you lose by default.” She confirmed to NewsNation’s “On balance” that her suggestion preceded the outburst, emphasizing the need to do more than simply observe a moment of silence.
The incident prompted a visible emotional response from both sides of the aisle. Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, described witnessing pain among Republican colleagues who had a personal connection to Kirk, while also acknowledging fear among Democrats.Tokuda expressed hope for finding “common ground and a way to move forward.”
