When Free Speech Gets You Fired, Democracy Is in Danger

On September 10, 2025, a political activist was assassinated by a lone gunman. I hadn’t planned to write about it, but a Washington Post article pushed me to speak up.

The piece, “In Wisconsin swing district, criticism of Charlie Kirk sparks backlash”, reported that a Wisconsin teacher was placed on paid leave after posting online remarks about Charlie Kirk. Her words angered people in her small rural town—and politicians jumped on it.

Kirk had said that having a Second Amendment means accepting some lives will be lost. The teacher called his words “hate” and said people “can’t be upset.” Were her comments tactful? No. But disrespect alone shouldn’t cost someone their job. None of us are required to respect everyone, and free speech doesn’t come with a politeness clause.

I don’t own a firearm by choice, but I strongly support the Second Amendment. The Constitution wasn’t written haphazardly. The First Amendment comes first because speech is our shield against injustice. The Second follows because it protects that shield when words aren’t enough. The Revolutionary War made that lesson clear: when freedom was met with force, people picked up arms. That right still matters today.

Back to the teacher. She remains on leave, waiting for the superintendent’s decision. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) pressured the district, threatening to withhold funding unless action was taken. He’s playing politics; she’s fighting for her job with legal counsel, arguing this is a First Amendment violation. And she’s right to fight. Public school teachers are government employees, which means their speech is protected in ways private employees’ speech isn’t. She didn’t drag politics into her classroom. She posted on her own time.

The problem isn’t just what she said. The problem is politicians weaponizing outrage to silence dissent. That’s the trend I see growing: belittle, degrade, pressure employers. It’s effective—but it’s also un-American.

“Call them out, and hell, call their employer,” Vice President JD Vance said in the days after Kirk’s shooting.

This approach chips away at constitutional rights. Slowly, steadily. First it’s one teacher. Then it’s anyone who says something unpopular. Rights don’t vanish in a single sweep—they erode piece by piece. That’s how authoritarian regimes operated in the past: target small groups first, then expand until no one is safe.

I know it’s risky to speak out, but silence is worse. The First Amendment is under fire right now. If it falls, the Second will follow. And once those two go, every other right is up for grabs. That’s why this moment matters. That’s why I can’t stay quiet anymore.