RALEIGH — In the wake of the assassination of Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk, the North Carolina House last week passed the Political Terrorism Prevention Act.
The bill, contained in Senate Bill 13, aims to enhance criminal penalties for politically motivated acts of violence while balancing protections for free expression and democratic engagement.
“You have a First Amendment right to say outrageous things,” House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) told reporters in response to questions about toning down political rhetoric. “If you’re an elected official, you probably ought to use good sense when you’re saying those things. And things get heated sometimes. But even in those circumstances, it shouldn’t come to physical attacks on people.”
The bill’s language includes a passage referring to “a disturbing rise in politically motivated acts” and lists the attempted assassinations of Congressman Steve Scalise, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the two attempts on Donald Trump during last year’s campaign.
Also mentioned are the arson attack on the residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and the assassinations of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and Kirk.
The bill states, “these attacks are not random, but intentional efforts to silence speech, suppress dissent, and enforce ideological conformity through terror.”
“Charlie Kirk was murdered because of his beliefs,” House Majority Leader Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) said. “That is political terrorism in its rawest form. This law makes crystal clear: If you target someone because of their politics in our state, we will throw the book at you and then some.”
The legislation defines acts of political violence as criminal offenses targeting individuals based on their political beliefs, affiliations or public expressions, including advocacy, candidacy or voting history.
A press release from Hall’s office said sentence enhancements in the bill include making politically motivated Class A felonies that are “not otherwise capital offenses” eligible for the death penalty. Sentencing enhancement in the bill would also raise felony convictions by one class level and bar parole or early release.
Guardrails for special sentencing would involve requiring indictments alleging political motivation, which can be proven by direct or circumstantial evidence. The political motivation factor is required to be included in any notice of intent to seek the death penalty and can be considered during sentencing even if a defendant is pleading guilty.
The bill would also require district attorneys to contact the attorney general when a politically motivated case is being brought. The attorney general would have the power to appoint a special prosecutor if requested. Additionally, victims and their families would be given the ability to give impact statements at any point during the proceedings.
If signed by the governor, the bill would be effective Dec. 1 and apply to offenses committed on or after that date.
The measure passed the House with wide bipartisan support by a vote of 105-6 and was sent to the Senate, which did not act on the bill before the end of the September session.
The six members voting no were all Democrats: Reps. Mary Belk (Mecklenburg), Maria Cervania (Wake), Julia Greenfield (Mecklenburg), Pricey Harrison (Guilford), Marcia Morey (Durham) and Renée Price (Orange).
“Like so many young conservatives, I was inspired today and in years past to get involved in public service because of Charlie Kirk,” Rep. Wyatt Gable (R-Onslow), who credited Kirk with having met his best friends in college, said on the House floor,
Gable, 23, is the first member of Gen Z elected to the legislature and was 22 when he became the youngest member elected to the General Assembly in 126 years.
“But I sit here, I feel, because of Charlie and what he created,” Gable said. “He created an organization that I was able to be a part of. I was able to learn, I was able to grow, I was able to network. … Charlie’s assassination was not just an attack on a man. It was an attack on free speech that every member of this General Assembly holds dear. This is why this bill matters.”
