We absolutely applaud the actions of the Marquette County Democratic and Republican parties in the wake of the heinous killing last week of Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University last Wednesday. A suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was charged Tuesday with aggravated murder.

The easy play for political parties and politicians here and elsewhere would be to attempt to make political hay from this act of violence. Indeed, we are troubled to report, a great many have.

Thankfully, the parties in Marquette County took a higher road when they released this statement:

“The Marquette County Democratic Party and Marquette County Republican Party are shocked by the shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. We stand united in our condemnation of political violence in any form and affirm our shared commitment to peaceful democratic expression. Our hearts are with his family and the UVU community.”

Whether one agrees with Kirk’s viewpoints, positions or associations, we believe, is very much beside the point. Murder is murder. And on its face, it must be condemned.

Thanks goes out to the Marquette County Democratic and Republican parties for doing that.