We have a country to reclaim: In his final interview with a Utah reporter Charlie Kirk stated his daily job was to prevent a revolution by getting young people back to faith.  He urged them to join a church, get married and have children.  This is the type of Conservatism he represented; lifting people up, having discourse and not staying angry.  How can anyone who opposes these worthy goals be assassinated for this effort?

It is appalling to see such a great division and anger towards Charlie Kirk even cheering his assassination.   A recent survey from FIRE and YouGOV shows a shocking percentage of the Left does not care about preventing anger or violence, or care whether opponents die.  They want to do whatever it takes to stop conservatives.

The Left murdered Charlie Kirk who wanted to use words and logic instead of guns and knives.  Senator Chris Murphy{D.CT} argued this month “We’re in a war right now to save this country.  And so you have to be willing to do what is necessary in order to save the country.”  We are experiencing a revolution and if you disagree with the Left you are targeted by verbal and/or physical abuse including protests, riots, and murder.

This division just did not happen overnight.  We have a country to reclaim where discussion and compromise lead to the center.  Charlie Kirk’s efforts to rekindle our faith, family and patriotism must continue to negate the radical effort of America’s left – Frank Mazur, South Burlington

Mourn, cringe, wince, prevail – The Pawlet Republican Caucus will be held this Thursday, September 18 at 6:30 pm at the West Pawlet Fire House. We will be reorganizing the Pawlet Republican Committee by electing officers and delegates to the Rutland County Committee.

Although we live in turbulent times, Rutland County has incredible power and strength. We have secured the three county senate seats with strong Republicans, Senator Brian Collamore, Senator Terry Williams and Senator Dave Weeks. All House Seats from Rutland County are held by Republicans except for one. This momentum has been reached through our determination, our steadfast love for our town, county, state and country and by the strong campaigns run by our candidates. Town committees are the backbone of our success; if our towns fail to flourish, so will our state.

As we reorganize, we should take the time to remember that the real strength of our party comes from us; we are the Vermonters who chose to protect our families, towns and state. We believe in standing our ground; we are not stingy but we are frugal; we are not fanatical but we are just; we do not lack humor but we are lead by our steadfast rural “common sense”.

As we mourn the death of our heroes, cringe at our communities in turmoil or wince at the anger and barbs frivolously thrown by some of our fellow citizens, we will prevail. Vermont is our state, the United States of America is our country and freedom is still ours.

Please join us at the Pawlet Republican Caucus, this Thursday, September 18 at 6:30 pm at the West Pawlet Fire House. Representative Chris Pritchard will enlighten us with a recap of his first session in the Vermont House of Representatives.

If you need further information, call me at (802) 645-0109 or email me at luebked@aim.com. – Pawlet Republican Committee, Dolores Luebke, Chairman

Guv’s statement on Kirk assassination missed the mark – Governor Scott issued a press release the day of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

“The heartbreaking assassination of Charlie Kirk is a painful reminder, to all of us, of why increasing polarization is so dangerous and can lead to political violence,” Scott began.

Scott blamed “increasing polarization” and “dangerous rhetoric” as the reason for Kirk’s murder, not mindsets regarding how we should behave when we have strong disagreements with one another.

Nowhere in Scott’s statement does he warn that political violence in Vermont will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Instead, Scott calls for unity and encourages us to find common ground, “our country continues to become more fractured, more violent, and more partisan – and we should all feel a sense of responsibility to change that.”

A beloved national public figure that spoke the truth and gave direction and hope to millions of Americans, especially young males from age of 11 to 30, was gunned down in front of 3,000 people, and our Governor calls for unity. Our responsibility: to bow down and compromise in a truth-versus-lies culture war, under an administration that has taken the side of the Father of Lies.

Governor – sir – I ask you: how does one find unity under your administration, which supports abortion up to the moment of birth, zero fetal protection rights, and “sex change” drugs and surgery for minors under Article 22; under laws that you signed that shield monsters that perform these procedures; under DEI/LGBTQ+ ideology being shoved down our children’s throats in our tax-payer funded schools; under Act 73 education “reform” that centralizes state power, strips local control, and restricts school choice, thus imprisoning children into our failed public schools?

While the who-really-done-it conspiracies emerge, and we will most likely never know the full truth about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, this we can know for certain: “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks”. God knows the deepest thoughts of our hearts. We can now measure hearts in the words and deeds expressed by individuals in the aftermath of Charlie’s brutal, public execution.

Those who express distain for Charlie Kirk, “he had it coming,” and openly celebrate his slaying have committed murder in their hearts. We see you by your fruits.

What is required at this time is an open call to repentance, to examine our hearts, and return to God’s ways. For a return to governance based upon truth instead of lies. And for our Governor to firmly state that Vermont will not tolerate political violence, period.

-Renee McGuinness, Monkton