Idaho legislator cites Charlie Kirk in condemning political violence | Opinion
First-term Idaho Rep. Monica Church, D-Boise, said she was stunned when Idaho State Police approached her about the need for security as a state legislator.
“Do I really need security?” she asked Tuesday as she presented a resolution before the House State Affairs Committee. “And then I immediately thought about my child. I thought about my nieces and nephews and my 1-year-old goddaughter, and I thought, ‘Am I putting them in danger?’”
Church, the granddaughter of the late Gov. Cecil Andrus, recalled fondly when she was 12 years old working as a file clerk and answering the phone for Andrus’ secretary and driving around the state with her grandfather, a Democrat.
She said that, even after he controversially vetoed a bill in 1990 that would have effectively banned abortions in the state of Idaho, “My family did not go into lockdown. Instead, he talked, and he talked, and he listened, and he was reelected in Idaho less than a year later.”
How times have changed, though.
“For me to feel for the first time unsafe in this building (the state Capitol), in this state as a political person in 2025 is unconscionable,” Church said. “And we can change that. We can support one another and honor our service to this state and so many others’ service to this state, no matter our differences inside and outside this building, not only for the safety of our children and our families, but for Idaho.”
That’s why Church introduced a resolution Tuesday condemning political violence and crimes against the state.
To attract bipartisan support, Church wisely cited the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk along with the killing of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, and her husband, Mark, as well as what she called targeted attacks on Idaho law enforcement, first responders, public and civil servants and elected officials.
“I know we could mention so many more people who lost their lives due to political violence or were harmed because of their public work,” Church said. “I only included the two names because they both represent violence that hit so close to home — elected state representatives and political activists, individuals who cared deeply about the unabridged political speech right in this country. And I would say, to truly honor their legacy, we should name things for the values that they held dear, liberty, service and an unwavering faith in America.”
In a sign of bipartisan support, Rep. Joe Alfieri, R-Coeur d’Alene, quickly spoke up to agree with Church’s resolution, for which he is to be commended.
“Representative Church, I am very moved by what you’ve done,” Alfieri said before making a motion to introduce the resolution. “I think this is a fantastic piece of legislation that you’re bringing forth, and I want to thank you for that. I think we’re of the same mind that if this country is to survive, if this state is to survive as a republic, we must do this type of thing. We must not have political violence.”
He was so close, but then said something that illustrates the root of the problem.
“We have to be able to reach — that terrible phrase — reach across the aisle to people we disagree with,” he said.
“Reach across the aisle” should not be considered a terrible phrase. “Compromise” should not be a dirty word.
And politicians should not label those with whom they disagree as “the enemy,” as Alfieri did at a 2023 town hall meeting.
“We have identified the enemy,” Alfieri said, referring to Republicans who, according to him, are RINOs, Republicans in Name Only, or Democrats disguised as Republicans.
Hopefully, Church’s resolution isn’t just talk. Hopefully, if they pass Church’s resolution, politicians like Alfieri take it to heart and realize the role they play, that their words matter, that what they say, how they label people and how they treat those with whom they disagree has an effect on political violence.
Elected officials like Alfieri have a platform to turn down the temperature and an opportunity to counteract our coarsened and divisive political discourse.
May this resolution, at least, be a start.
Lord knows we need it right now.
Scott McIntosh is the opinion editor of the Idaho Statesman. You can email him at smcintosh@idahostatesman.com or call him at 208-377-6202. Sign up for the free weekly email newsletter The Idaho Way.
