From Grievance to Gunfire: Lessons from the Charlie Kirk Assassination

We are proud to highlight a powerful piece written by our colleague Mubin Shaikh, Exit Peer Specialist at Parents for Peace, recently published in Homeland Security Today.

In his article, From Grievance to Gunfire: Lessons from the Charlie Kirk Assassination, Mubin draws on his lived experience as a former extremist and his current work helping individuals disengage from extremism to reflect on what led to this tragic event — and what it means for prevention.

“When grievances go unaddressed, and when individuals lack healthier outlets for their anger or alienation, they can escalate into violence. Prevention requires recognizing those warning signs before they become gunfire.” — Mubin Shaikh

Mubin underscores the importance of behavioral threat assessment, showing how early indicators — often visible to peers, families, and communities — can be recognized and acted upon. He emphasizes that it is not ideology alone that drives violence, but a mix of personal grievances, psychological vulnerabilities, and social influences.

At Parents for Peace, we see this dynamic every day. Families reach out to us when they notice troubling changes in a loved one’s behavior, language, or online activity. Mubin’s perspective highlights why equipping families and communities with tools to recognize and respond to these signs is critical.

“Intervention is not about punishing people for their ideas. It’s about interrupting the pathway to violence and offering healthier alternatives.” — Mubin Shaikh

We are grateful for Mubin’s leadership and honesty in sharing these lessons. His voice embodies what makes Parents for Peace unique: the combination of professional expertise and lived experience, dedicated to transforming pain into prevention.

👉 Read Mubin’s full article here