The news of Colorado’s Evergreen High School shooting, as well as Charlie Kirk’s death, is heartbreaking. These kinds of violent attacks are vile and disgusting – regardless of who it is aimed at. None of us should ever look away or stay silent when violence is used to silence someone else.
Students, teachers, and families of Evergreen HIgh School are forever changed. Senseless violence plagues our country. Too often, we are reminded of how quickly lives can be shattered, that violence does not stop at school doors, political stages, or community gatherings. Its reach is wide — and its consequences are permanent.
True leaders, especially those without titles, must all stand together and condemn violence, no matter our political differences or personal feelings. There is no excuse, no qualification, no forgiveness for these kinds of acts.
Here in South Carolina, we have seen the devastation that shootings bring. We’ve seen firsthand how entire communities are changed forever by violence, and even the threat of it leaves scars. No one should ever have to live through that.
We cannot simply mourn and then move on, we must turn grief into action. That means investing in improved gun safety laws, expanding mental health supports, strengthening community protections, and making it clear that political violence should never be tolerated.
At a time when it is tempting to point fingers and deepen the divide, our responsibility is to be a voice of reason, a force for change and not add to the chaos. Violence is never the answer. Dialogue, democracy, and compassion must be.
Today, we grieve with those who are hurting, and tomorrow we commit ourselves to building a safer, more peaceful, and more just community for all.
M. Greg Green
LCDP Chair
