Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., urged Floridians to report anyone celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and said those individuals should face firing, defunding and professional license revocation.
In a post on the social platform X, Fine wrote, "Those celebrating the death of Charlie Kirk must be thrown out of civil society. I will demand their firing, defunding, and license revocation." He asked residents to contact his office if they know of anyone in Florida's 6th District or elsewhere in the state who works for government, an entity that receives government funding, or holds a professional license and is publicly celebrating the killing.
Kirk, a conservative commentator and founder of the Turning Point Action network, was shot and killed on Sept. 10, 2025, while hosting an event on a college campus in Orem, Utah. The killing prompted nationwide attention and a wave of reactions from elected officials, advocacy groups and the public.
The response has included both calls for unity and sharp rebukes of those who appeared to celebrate or mock the fatal shooting. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Pentagon officials warned service members and civilian employees that expressions celebrating Kirk’s death are being monitored and would be addressed. Sean Parnell, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, said on X that "It is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of Defense civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American. The Department of Defense has zero tolerance for it." Hegseth added that the matter was being tracked closely and would be addressed immediately.
Several people drew public scrutiny and job consequences over social media posts relating to the killing. Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah said on Substack that she was fired over posts connected to the shooting. Memorials honoring Kirk have been held across the United States and abroad, including services reported in Berlin.
Fine’s appeal targets a wide range of workers, including those at public universities, health-care providers that receive government funding and licensed professionals such as lawyers, medical personnel and teachers. He urged constituents to provide names to his office so he could pursue employment and licensing consequences.
The episode reflects heightened sensitivity among officials to public commentary that appears to endorse political violence. Republican lawmakers have denounced the killing and criticized those who diminished the shooting. At the same time, the enforcement of workplace and licensing actions for speech on social media has prompted debate about the boundaries between prohibited conduct and protected expression.
Fine’s office did not immediately provide additional details about how reported cases would be vetted or the processes he would use to pursue the actions he described. The Pentagon said it would continue to monitor and address instances involving military members and civilian employees.
The killing has continued to draw attention from public officials across the political spectrum, with memorials and statements underscoring the national repercussions of a politically charged act of violence. Investigations by law enforcement into the shooting remain ongoing.