By J.D. Davidson
The Center Square

A little more than a week after the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk and three months after a Minnesota lawmaker was killed in her home, Democrat and Republican leaders in Ohio want a more peaceful future.

House and Senate leadership – Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, House Speaker Matt Huffman, R-Lima, and House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati – joined in a statement Thursday to condemn both assassinations, hoping the unity sends a stronger message.

“In a free and democratic society, there is absolutely no place for politically motivated violence, nor should anyone encourage or celebrate this type of heinous criminal behavior,” the group said in a statement. “As leaders from different sides of the aisle, we felt it was vital to join together to emphasize the significance of this message as we strongly condemn the assassinations of Charlie Kirk and Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman earlier this year.”

Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old.

Police arrested 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson of Utah and charged him with seven counts, including the capital crime of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing bodily harm, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.

Vance Boelter is charged with murder, stalking and firearms offenses for the killing of Hortman and her husband in their Minnesota suburban home in June. He is also accused of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and his wife. The Hoffmans are expected to make a full recovery.

The Minnesota shootings led to increased security for Ohio lawmakers.

Ohio’s political leaders said Thursday that violence erodes expression.

“A free democracy depends on the open and peaceful exchange of ideas. Political violence destroys the bedrock upon which that freedom of expression is built. When we are worried that our words or viewpoints might lead to political violence, we are no longer able to speak our minds or advocate for our priorities,” the group said.

They also encouraged a stronger belief in humanity and respectful dialogue moving forward.

“At the most basic level, we must put into practice a belief in each other’s humanity. We are people – fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, Ohioans and Americans – before we are anything else. The future of our country depends on never forgetting that basic fact,” the statement said. “Now more than ever, we must encourage respectful dialogue, starting here in the legislature, across both political parties, to bring about a brighter, more peaceful future here in Ohio.”