Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, distributes MAGA hats to the public May 1, 2025, during a TPUSA event in California. (Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
He noted that West Virginia, the District of Columbia and Iowa have references to politics in terms of bias-fueled violence but that New Jersey would be the first to unconditionally categorize violence like Kirk’s murder as a hate crime.
Sussex County Commission Director Chris Carney was also recorded as a supporter of the bill.
In a separate statement, Steinhardt credited Carney, who leads the rural county at the Garden State’s northwestern tip often dubbed "The Skylands," for offering "leadership and foresight" in formulating the bill.
"Like a lot of things in life, there's some predicate act that prompts all of us to speak up and act, and I think taking steps toward calling political violence what it is was long overdue," Steinhardt told Fox News Digital during his interview.
He said the bill does not create a new category of crime but provides enhanced hate-crime penalties for crimes committed to "punish or silence" someone from engaging in politics or expressing their personal views.
CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING LEADS TO OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM UTAH OFFICIALS, 2025 NOMS ON BOTH SIDES
Steinhardt lamented that American political discourse has devolved to a point where someone as physically peaceful as Kirk could be murdered for simply expressing interest in discourse and debate.
His bill announcement referenced multiple attempts on President Donald Trump’s life, the killing of a Minnesota lawmaker earlier this year and an arson attack against Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as his family celebrated Passover at the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg.
Steinhardt also referenced arsons at Tesla dealerships that were linked to hatred toward company CEO Elon Musk, then a close confidant of Trump, as well as the assassination attempt on several Republicans at an Alexandria, Virginia, ballfield several years ago that gravely wounded Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.
In separate comments on Kirk's murder, state Sen. Joe Pennacchio called the activist a "warrior" who "fought for the principles he believed in, such as traditional American values and politics, but especially his faith."
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"As a warrior, his weapon of choice was the ‘word.’ Our foundation as human beings is built upon and expressed by words," said Pennacchio, R-Morristown.
He echoed Steinhardt's call for civility, adding in a statement that "demonizing someone with words has proven to be as lethal as any other weapon man has known.
"To those who choose to do so, stop."
Fox News Digital reached out to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy about whether he would support Steinhardt's legislation.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/charlie-kirk-murder-spurs-first-in-the-nation-state-political-violence-hate-crime-legislation