The assassination of Charlie Kirk at a Utah Valley University event on Wednesday will provoke changes in how political commentators and activists organize their personal security.

While American traditions of free speech and patriotism have long fostered unity against the outbursts of political street violence regularly seen globally, political assassinations remain a scourge on our democratic republic. Like so many of his public events, Kirk’s appearance on Wednesday was designed to foster robust and sometimes entertaining debate on matters of public import. There are few more important American traditions. It’s a big problem that a single sniper wreaked such havoc on such an important American experience and its innocent purveyor.