Conservative activist, husband and father Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10. He was killed at Utah Valley University in Orem during one of his popular campus events, where he encouraged free debate with anyone who wanted to question him.

I mourn another instance of awful political violence, stressing the fabric of our country. A man was killed for fighting for what he thought was right, and he leaves behind a wife and two young children. That should sadden us all.

America is better off as a place where people can exchange ideas freely, without fear of being killed or otherwise persecuted. Charlie understood this ideal and fought for it. If his death leads to anything, it should reinforce that feeling in us all.

Young conservatives will miss Charlie Kirk

Charlie is one of the most influential figures in right-wing politics for my generation. At just 31 years old, he built Turning Point USA, a massive conservative activist network. Through that effort, he has registered thousands of young voters and was a key influence on the shape of campus conservatism.

Despite our differences of policy and approach on many issues, I always respected Charlie for his commitment to honest debate. There are a few people who have the bravery to go in front of massive crowds on hostile turf and debate political ideas.He gave young conservatives like me a role model of someone who was not afraid of speaking his mind despite whatever accusations or threats were thrown his way. He was routinely met with threats of violence and continued to do what he did, knowing that there was always a chance someone would act against him.

Young conservatives will feel this loss for years to come

Without Charlie, there is a massive void left among young conservatives. Charlie was one of the voices who sparked my interest in politics when I was a young conservative on campus, and I know I am far from the only one. He always encouraged young conservatives to be unapologetically true to themselves, and we still must be.

We cannot allow this killing to discourage others from advocating for our beliefs. Being a conservative on campus is already extremely hard as it is, and the looming threat of violence only adds to that stigma. I hope that young conservatives become more emboldened from this, not more reluctant.

Americans should be sad today, for Charlie and his family, but also for what this means for the future. I don’t want to live in a place where this violence is a common occurrence. Young conservatives have to show that violence is not an effective way to silence us. Young conservatives on campus have the unfortunate responsibility now to become louder, not quieter, in response. We need more young leaders like Charlie, not fewer.

Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charlie Kirk gave young conservatives a voice. We'll feel his loss for years to come. | Opinion

Reporting by Dace Potas, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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