Often described as "libertarian-leaning," Paul frequently pushes for guardrails he sees as necessary to ensure First Amendment rights are fully protected. During the pandemic, for instance, the lawmaker was vocal in opposing government efforts to discourage statements that federal health leaders deemed misinformation.
But in the wake of Kirk's killing and a torrent of wildly polarized reactions online — spanning from sympathy to schadenfreude to clear calls for violence or retribution — Paul's response in a recent Fox News appearance was more focused on where to draw the line on speech.
Paul noted that many employer contracts and university agreements have codes of conduct that do regulate what people can and can't say.
The senator also referenced comments online that have celebrated a 2017 assault on him. Paul said by "making light" of what he suffered, the posters are "encouraging other people to do it."
"So I think it is time for this to be a crackdown on people," he said. "And like I say, it's perfectly legal and legitimate, particularly if it's part of the contract process."
Paul didn't elaborate on what he meant by a "crackdown," but the remarks come amid Republican backlash against social media platforms and calls for content moderation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Trump administration will be "targeting" hate speech, making a distinction from free speech — a position she appeared to later rein in, according to NBC News.
Whether Congress will take any action is another question.
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has decried the online response, but has not endorsed any legislative steps.