Dr Frank Turek defends death penalty with Christian faith backing
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Dr. Frank Turek defended the death penalty, saying it was supported by the Christian faith.
The Christian author and speaker told Fox News Digital why he supports the death penalty when there is “no doubt” that the man accused of Charlie Kirk’s assassination is actually guilty.
“Obviously we have to do this knowingly. We have to make sure, beyond any reasonable doubt, that the person is truly guilty,” Turek said. he said.
Turek pointed to passages in the Bible that he believes support the death penalty.
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Charlie Kirk tips his hat to the crowd after arriving at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. (Trent Nelson/Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)
“In Romans 13, it says that the leader does not carry the sword for nothing, which means that the governor or the king does not carry the sword for nothing,” Turek said. “This is a reference to capital punishment. Also, when Jesus was in the presence of Pilate, Pilate said to Jesus: ‘Don’t you know that I have authority to kill you?’ And Jesus said: ‘Yes, it is, but you have this authority from above.'”
Turek explained: “In other words, the government has the right to impose the death penalty for capital crimes.”
He said one cannot “turn the other cheek” in cases of severe crimes such as murder, adding that this command has been misunderstood.
“People say, ‘How about turning the other cheek?’ he will say. This is where people don’t understand. There are different commands and commands depending on the person. “If governments always turned the other cheek, there would be anarchy, no one would be safe, people would be killed, people would be raped, people would have their livelihoods taken away.”
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“It grants creative rights, and the government needs to secure those rights from a biblical perspective,” Turek said.
“James Madison famously said: ‘If men were angels, there would be no need for government.’ If everyone were angels, would we need a government? No, there would be no need for a government. “The reason we have a government is to protect innocent people from evil, to protect rights, to secure rights,” Turek said. “If a government does not do this, it is an illegitimate government.”
Turek said America’s early founding showed that rights come from God, not the government.
As Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
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Frank Turek speaks at the memorial service for slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, 2025. (Daniel Cole/Reuters)
“Governments don’t give you your rights,” Turek said. “Governments just need to ensure your rights.”
Robinson is facing maximum charge of aggravated murdercarries a potential death penalty.
Dr. Turek and comedian Rob Schneider are scheduled to speak at the upcoming Turning Point USA “This Is The Turning Point” tour stop at UC Berkeley.
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Fox News’ Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi and Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
