Guests - Monty Bennett, Police Chief Chad E. Kasmar

Remembering Charlie Kirk: A Christian Revival and Community Response

A Tribute to Faith, Family, and Freedom

Yesterday marked an unforgettable moment as thousands gathered to honor Charlie Kirk at Cardinals Stadium in Phoenix. The event, which began at 5 a.m. and concluded around 3:30 p.m., wasn't political in nature but rather a Christian gathering to honor a man who dedicated his life to his faith and values. Having known Charlie for ten years, it was a privilege to witness how he touched so many lives and left an indelible mark on our nation.

Monty Bennett on Political Violence and Social Chaos

Joining the program today is Monty Bennett, CEO and Chairman of Ashford Incorporated, a leading hospitality asset management firm based in Dallas. Bennett shared his concerns about the troubling pattern of violence in our country, particularly in light of recent events.

"I'm in the real estate and hotel business, and we've been through a lot lately with COVID, riots, the introduction of AI, and people traveling less. When you see the violence going on in our streets, like the UnitedHealthcare CEO just walking down the street and being shot in the back, it's stunning. This violence is perpetrated by those on the far left and is an epidemic that needs to be addressed," Bennett explained.

The conversation turned to Luigi Mangione, who has been somewhat celebrated as a folk hero by certain segments of the left after shooting a healthcare executive. Bennett drew parallels between this case and Charlie Kirk's assassination, noting the disturbing trend of political violence.

"Unfortunately, that's what we have become, or at least elements in our country. I'm not happy with these health insurance companies either, and there's much that needs reform. But this is not how we address alleged bad behavior. We don't just go assassinate people because that's utter chaos," Bennett stated.

He referenced the Cloward-Piven theory, suggesting that some on the far left deliberately sow chaos through enormous spending, massive integration, and rampant crime. The goal, according to Bennett, is to make conditions so unbearable that citizens would welcome an autocratic federal government that would install Marxism and socialism.

"Because if people are happy living their lives, they're not going to dump the system they're in to install a Marxist state. That's only going to happen if there's chaos and misery," Bennett explained.

Charlie Kirk's Legacy and Impact

The conversation shifted to Charlie Kirk's significant impact and the memorial service held at Cardinals Stadium. The event drew several hundred thousand attendees, with 70,000 in the facility itself and overflow crowds at Coyote Stadium. Millions more watched the five-hour church revival online.

"President Trump said Charlie had recently come to him and asked him to go to Chicago. Charlie grew up in Chicago, and his first office was in Lamont. President Trump told millions of people yesterday that we're going to Chicago," Winn shared.

Bennett emphasized the importance of faith in combating societal chaos: "I think we've all heard the quote now: what do you want to be remembered for? For my courage, my undying love of Jesus Christ, and for my faith. Charlie was a pure demonstration of that."

Bennett encouraged listeners to rededicate themselves to their faith in response to recent events. "I just want to encourage people with what's happening in this country to rededicate themselves to their faith, to pray more, to worship more, and to work hard to make our society something God would be proud of."

Reflections on Charlie Kirk's Memorial Service

Upon returning from the break, Winn shared personal reflections about the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. She described how people from 22 different states attended, including attendees from Minnesota, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, and California.

Winn then read a heartfelt letter from Erica Kirk, Charlie's widow and the new CEO of Turning Point USA:

"I miss him. Every breath, every heartbeat, every memory, I now replay in my mind. My husband, Charlie Kirk, was the love of my life. You may know him as a fighter for freedom, a warrior for truth, the founder of Turning Point USA, the host of a nationally syndicated radio show. But to me, he was just Charlie - my best friend, the father of our two precious babies, the man who made me laugh when the world felt too heavy, the man who every single morning without fail would look at me and ask, 'How can I love you better today?'"

The letter detailed how they met, fell in love, and built not just a life together but a calling for America. Erica explained that she will now lead Turning Point USA forward in Charlie's name and for God's glory, referencing Isaiah 6:8, a verse Charlie often repeated: "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am. Send me.'"

Winn reflected on Charlie's transformation from a young activist to a family man who encouraged young men to be the kind of people women would want to marry. She highlighted how Charlie saw the dangers of certain societal trends years ago and encouraged open conversations and debates rather than shutting down dialogue.

"What I really am happy for is the number of people that can now go back and listen to Charlie Kirk's content. People who didn't know who Charlie Kirk was, but obviously Charlie Kirk has now made an impact across the world."

She also noted the significant presence at his memorial, including the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, and many others who came to honor Charlie's life and legacy. The memorial fulfilled Charlie's vision of holding a revival in a venue as large as Cardinals Stadium, with media from around the world in attendance.

"It wasn't the speakers yesterday that made the event special, though they were all wonderful. There was something much deeper going on with the average person who showed up in their freedom shirt or their 'I Am Charlie' shirt. There were Grammy award-winning people singing songs of faith. It was beautiful."

Chief Chad Kasmar on Public Safety in Tucson

Following the discussion about Charlie Kirk, Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar joined the program. As a native Tucsonan and University of Arizona graduate who joined the police department in 2000, Kasmar shared his perspectives on the challenges facing law enforcement in the community.

When asked about his top concerns, Kasmar identified three strategic areas of focus: "Violence that includes guns, narcotics in our community and their impact, and traffic safety - we have too many traffic fatalities for a community our size. Lastly, we're concerned about staffing numbers, which requires retaining competent, well-trained staff while focusing on recruitment efforts."

Kasmar discussed the department's recent graduation of 21 new police officers and the promising pipeline of recruits in upcoming classes. He explained that while they typically have class sizes between 20-25 recruits, their most recent pre-academy started with 41 participants.

Regarding recruitment challenges, Kasmar emphasized the importance of understanding Tucson's unique character: "There are 18,000 police departments in the country and 74 if we include our Canadian friends. Departments with over a thousand team members are considered 'major city' designations, and we're one of those."

Rather than focusing on recruiting officers from other cities, Kasmar believes in building from within: "Our community service officers do great work out in the community. They handled 70,000 calls for service last year. I started with just under 50 community service officers and now have about 130."

Staffing and Public Safety Resources

The conversation turned to police staffing levels and the need for appropriate resources. Kasmar revealed that the department currently has about 800 officers, with approximately 740 deployable - equivalent to 1989 staffing numbers despite significant population growth.

"I've been consistent talking about a 900, 300, 300 number. That's 900 commissioned officers deployable and 300 combination of community service officers and professional staff investigators," Kasmar explained.

While acknowledging the progress made in improving compensation, Kasmar noted the competitive market for recruiting officers in the post-Ferguson, post-George Floyd era. "There are a lot of folks that don't want to do this work, and it creates a really competitive market to recruit people."

When asked about what drives public confidence in police, Kasmar emphasized response times: "One of the biggest interactions or measurable points we have is the 911 system. When people call, do we come? Our average response time is five minutes and 53 seconds to a Level One call - meaning someone's breaking into your house. I'd like to see that number cut in half, but it's going to take more resources."

Addressing Crime and Drug Issues

The conversation shifted to crime statistics and the impact of drugs in the community. Kasmar noted that part one violent crime and property crime are down by over 20%, with non-fatal shootings also down by more than 20%. Homicides remain relatively flat at 33-34 for the year.

Regarding narcotics, Kasmar explained that about 50% of the fentanyl in the country is seized in Arizona. As the chair of Arizona HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area), Kasmar emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to combat drug trafficking.

"When we talk about narcotics, we're over 4,000 arrests year-to-date. Our misdemeanor arrests are up over 108% on a five-year average and up 58% on our felony arrests. It is frustrating when an officer goes out, responds to a community complaint, makes an arrest for narcotics, and then that case is dismissed in initial appearance," Kasmar admitted.

He emphasized that drug use in Tucson involves primarily poly-drug users - people using methamphetamine and fentanyl in conjunction. He also mentioned the emergence of carfentanil, which is 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Community Investment and Breaking Cycles

Chief Kasmar stressed the importance of investing in youth and breaking cycles of poverty and addiction: "The source is investing in youth and dissecting why we have so much addiction in our community. One reality is we have twice the poverty rate of the rest of the country, which impacts crime everywhere."

He advocated for a comprehensive approach that includes both enforcement and prevention: "If we really want to think about what a different Tucson looks like, we have to think about ways to solve problems before they become problems. So youth investment, youth engagement, thinking about our ratio of teachers to students as the world has gotten more complicated - we should have more teachers and smaller class sizes."

Kasmar pushed back against polarized positions that suggest enforcement is the sole solution or should be abandoned entirely: "When we make definitive statements like 'we can't arrest our way out of this problem,' it hits all of the resources in a community that are working to solve really complex issues against each other. Arrest is a tool, and when other systems have failed, there should be accountability."

Traffic Safety and Community Engagement

The conversation concluded with a discussion of traffic safety. Kasmar explained that his department has issued over 17,000 traffic citations this year, over 3,000 warnings, and made about 23,000 traffic contacts. However, the department currently has only 10 motorcycle officers, down from nearly 60 when Kasmar was a motor officer in 2004.

"We don't want to be Oro Valley where you're afraid to go one over. But we certainly shouldn't have a culture of no enforcement," Kasmar noted, referencing the neighboring community's reputation for strict traffic enforcement.

With nearly 60 traffic fatalities year-to-date, including a significant number of motorcycle fatalities, Kasmar urged listeners to be vigilant: "Please, please, please make sure there's not a motorcycle coming towards you before you make that left turn. Even if it's not your fault, nobody wants that on their conscience."

In closing, Kasmar emphasized his commitment to the community and the importance of civic engagement: "This community has to get out and vote and decide. You are accountable. You can't just be critical of city or county leadership. You have the ability to vote and be involved and make sure that all of our elected officials know what your desires and expectations are for their performance."