Dear editor:

Wednesday, Sept. 17, is Constitution Day. The Constitution of the United States of America outlines how our country is organized and explains the duties of the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch.

The Preamble states, “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Like many documents, the Constitution has amendments. The first 10 amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. I’d like to focus on the First Amendment.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

On Sept. 10 an assassin’s bullet took the life of Charlie Kirk while he was exercising his First Amendment rights. Our nation has become so divided that those opposed to another’s rights must be destroyed and silenced. Not long after Charlie Kirk’s murder a suggestion came that we should rethink gathering in person with our representatives because it has become too dangerous. Except, that is exactly what the opposition to free speech want.

We must not succumb to those who want others to be silenced.

Members of Congress take an oath to uphold the Constitution. I find it troubling that some members openly celebrated the murder of Charlie Kirk. Openly celebrated the silencing of free speech. Openly protested a prayer for a fellow American gunned down while exercising his rights. Some were “repulsed” and showed feigned outrage that the chief executive didn’t call for a “coming together.” These people have no intention of coming together and reveal their true nature. This behavior is unacceptable in our elected officials and is only political postering during a time when we should be mourning the death of a fellow American.

Charlie Kirk is a Christian. I use the word “is” because when you are a Christ follower, they can only kill your body. The spirit lives on. I know, because Charlie Kirk is my brother in Christ. Jesus taught us that there would be those who will hate us, because they hated him first. And here lies the vilest part of those who want the Charlie Kirks silenced. That he brought it upon himself, and the elimination of religion in the public square.

I don’t see Charlie Kirk’s assassination as political. Charlie Kirk shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ every day, everywhere he went. And when the opposition couldn’t win the debate, they murdered him.

The opposition to the First Amendment to the Constitution has been around for a long time. If you listen very closely to the voices of history, you will hear the same from the socialists, marxists and the communists. We cannot fool ourselves any longer. The murder of Charlie Kirk is a defining moment in the history of our nation. Are we going to protect the Constitution and liberty or give way to the enemies of the law of the land? What will we become?

Paul Hoeft

Wyoming House of Representatives,

House District 25, Powell