Palmetto Bay Council member Steve Cody faces calls for resignation after Charlie Kirk comments

As many Americans appeal for unity in the wake of the assassination of Republican activist Charlie Kirk, some Florida elected officials are showing that divisions remain across the political landscape.

Palmetto Bay City Council member Steve Cody, who holds the District 2 seat, said on his Facebook account, “Charlie Kirk is a fitting sacrifice to our Lords: Smith & Wesson (gun manufacturer). Hallowed by their names.”

In an interview with Florida Politics, Cody said he was referencing a long-published statement where Kirk once said that protecting the Second Amendment was worthwhile even if some people die from shootings.

“I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights,” Kirk said in 2023.

Kirk was shot to death while holding a political rally at the Utah Valley University campus Wednesday afternoon.

Cody’s comments led to a flood of criticism, including from Attorney General James Uthmeier.

“If this facebook post is legitimate, Steve Cody should resign from his position as a Palmetto Bay Council member immediately,” Uthmeier said on X.

Contacted by phone Thursday afternoon to respond to Uthmeier’s call, Cody said he already deleted the original post he made about Kirk.

Asked if he would resign, Cody said, “No.”

He added that he already regrets the social media screed.

“I’ve taken it down,” said Cody, a Democrat. “Frankly, I regret putting it up there. It was more of a commentary on the irony that Mr. Kirk in 2023 was saying that we have to have gun deaths as a sacrifice for the Second Amendment … and unfortunately he fell victim to gun violence.”

Cody went further on his Facebook account and said, “I screwed up” and linked an extensive statement explaining his thoughts.

Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham — who, like Uthmeier, is a Republican — also joined the call for Cody’s departure from the City Council later in the day.

“I must call for Councilman Cody to Step Down. The people of Palmetto Bay deserve leadership that reflects compassion, responsibility and dignity in moments of crisis,” Cunningham said in a social media post.

Several other elected officials also joined the chorus for Cody’s resignation, including U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez, state Sen. Ileana Garcia, state Rep. Juan C. Porras and former state Rep. Omar Blanco, all Republicans. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, a Democrat, also called on Cody to step down.

Cody said he fully intends to keep his seat at least until his term expires in 2028. He did acknowledge that his comments may have been taken as insensitive and that’s why he removed his original post.

“I gave it some thought and thought that it could be seen as being insensitive,” Cody said. “I was elected to serve until 2028 and I’m going to be serving until that time.”

And he reiterated that he’s not going to adhere to Uthmeier’s demand.

“It doesn’t mean anything to me,” Cody said. “If I were to say that he should resign, how much credence would you put on that for something he has done?”