(Orem) Boeden Seitzinger is still “traumatized” by the death of Charlie Kirk. This American electrician was in the first ranks of the rally where the pro-Trump influencer was shot in the neck.
“I saw the blood spring from his carotid artery,” the young man told AFP, wearing a red cap “Make America Great Again”. “It was obvious that he was not going to get out of it. It was terrifying. »»
Despite the death of this American right figure, he rejects the idea of establishing stricter controls to obtain firearms in the United States.
“It wouldn’t have changed anything. When you want, you can, people get weapons, whatever happens, ”he breathes, during a vigil in memory of the conservative activist in Orem, Utah.
A suspect is currently in police custody for the murder of Mr. Kirk. The authorities have not yet explained under what conditions the telescope, found in groves near the crime scene, was acquired.
But one thing is certain: Utah, where the influencer has died, is one of the most permissive states in firearms. In this very conservative region, adults can carry firearms without a license, except for young people aged 18 to 20.
On campuses, like that of Utah Valley University, where Mr. Kirk was killed, having a weapon is possible provided you have a license.
Defender of the second amendment
Aged 18, Mr. Seitzinger grew up by hunting with his family and obtained his first rifle a few months ago. The purchase took 30 minutes, time required for the shop to check its history. He refuses any rule which would have forced him to wait several days.
“This is not what Charlie wanted,” he said.
“Charlie often said that the danger of a firearm only comes from its owner. The gun should not be blamed, but rather the person who brandishes it, ”he says. “The fact that he died does not inspire me with fear of firearms, it makes me suspicious of people. »»
The activist, who was shot dead as he answered a question about killings by firearms, was an ardent defender of the second amendment to the American Constitution.
Photo Antranik Tavitian, Reuters
A woman holds a photo of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
For example, he considered that “it is worth, alas, to deplore each year a certain number of deaths per firearm in order to be able to enjoy the second amendment, which protects our other rights offered by God”.
With more firearms in circulation than residents, the United States displayed the highest firearm mortality rate in all developed countries. In 2024, more than 16,000 people, not to mention suicides, were killed by firearm, according to the NGO Gun Violence Archive.
“Dissonance”
Successive governments have so far failed to stem the killings, a scourge of daily life systematically followed by the traditional “prayers” sent by the political class.
At 73, Reed Fansworth, also prayed for Kirk with hundreds of people during the vigil. In the crowd, this manager of a computer company saw a few people carrying weapons, and felt reassured.
“Utah is a bit of the West West,” he smiles, a big star flag in hand. “When everyone is wearing, you pay attention to your behavior. »»
“Charlie’s death does not change much,” he continues. “We have to worry about people who feel this anger, but we must not remove everyone’s arms. »»
For his part, Leah Marett admits to feeling a “dissonance”, faced with the assassination of Mr. Kirk. But for this 25 -year -old student, the debate remains “insoluble”.
“There are so many firearms in circulation, even if we were trying to remove them, not everyone would make them,” she said. “We would leave many people in possession of firearms, and the innocent people would find themselves defenseless. »»
