By Rick Green

Copyright keenesentinel

The killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah on Sept. 10 has triggered a war of words among New Hampshire lawmakers, just as it has around the country.

“To my 15-year-old son and every young man in America: You are all Charlie Kirk now. You have been conscripted to war. It may not be your choice, but is your opportunity,” Rep. Jason Osborne, R-Auburn, the N.H. House majority leader, posted on X, formerly Twitter, one day after the shooting.

“Be like Kirk. Be bold and courageous, be kind and be gracious. Only you can save the Republic. Godspeed.”

Osborne also said in a Sept. 12 newsletter that Republican lawmakers need to fight “radical extremism” and noted that the filing period for state legislation was coming up.

“It’s time to turn up the heat,” he said.

Rep. Alexis Simpson, D-Exeter, the N.H. House minority leader, responded to Osborne’s comments in an email sent Monday afternoon.

“In this moment, when our state and our nation are reeling from political violence, it is appalling that House Majority Leader Jason Osborne would call to ‘turn up the heat’ and tell young Granite Staters that they ‘have been conscripted to war.’ This is not leadership. Words matter, and dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric like this puts lives at risk.”

Osborne responded on X:

“Using the exact same M.O. of selective misquotation that resulted in the public execution of a peaceful husband and father, Democrats are now putting that target on my chest.”

Tyler Robinson, 22, was formally charged with aggravated murder on Tuesday in Kirk’s killing. While much remains to be learned about what may have motivated Robinson, Republican leaders were quick to lay blame on their political opponents.

N.H. Sen. Timothy Lang, R-Sanbornton, posted a photo of Kirk and Kirk’s family on Facebook on Sept. 11, and a remark:

“A wife was widowed, and 2 children lost their father, because the LEFT can’t tolerate WORDS.”

There were more than 100 comments to his post, some in support. Others noted that there has been violence in recent times on both sides of the political equation, including the June 14 killings of Melissa Hortman, a Democratic state representative in Minnesota, and her husband.

In a post on X on Saturday, Osborne asserted that Democrats were mainly responsible for political violence:

“The right has a culture of gun ownership, of preparedness, of law and order, of faith and family. The left has a culture of chaos, riots, looting, burning, and assassinations. No more pretending. No more ‘both sides’ gaslighting. Zero tolerance.”

State Rep. Nicholas Germana, D-Keene, the deputy Democratic floor leader, has been critical of Osborne, including in a Facebook post on Monday.

“Republican Leader Jason Osborne chose to fan the flames, to heighten the tensions, and to tell Granite Staters that they are at war with each other. Rep. Osborne has always shown his disdain for New Hampshire values, never more so than at this critical moment.”

The Republican party holds majorities in the N.H. House and Senate. Lawmakers are now beginning to file proposed legislation for next year’s session.