Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier​​ announced Monday that the state is expanding ways for residents to report alleged threats of political violence.

During a press conference at Valencia College in Orlando, Uthmeier​​ argued that there is a difference “between free speech and a threat of violence” as he announced the creation of a new public portal for such reports. Calls for violence are “not protected by the First Amendment,” the attorney general said, adding that the portal will allow the public to submit anonymous screenshots, videos, and other evidence of threats of violent extremism to the state for review.

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The Republican attorney general’s office noted that the move responded to the conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s recent assassination as he debated college students about politics, religion, and other cultural topics at a university campus in Utah.

Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsa reiterated during the press conference this week that efforts are underway to investigate and sanction teachers who have made social media posts celebrating or encouraging Kirk’s assassination. The Florida Department of Education’s Office of Professional Practices Services will be conducting “thorough investigations” into each case of a teacher making such posts, Kamoutsa said.

Kirk’s death has sparked extensive conversations about how threats of political violence are challenging the right to free speech in the United States. The matter has provoked a variety of suggestions about how to address tensions, with some lawmakers arguing that more needs to be done to ensure campuses and states protect conservatives from being targeted due to their political beliefs. Others, including Republicans such as Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rand Paul (R-KY), have warned that efforts to censor people accused of celebrating Kirk’s death or criticizing his beliefs in public comments or online social media posts could mark violations of the First Amendment, which guarantees a nearly absolute right to free speech.

Uthmeier​​ dismissed concerns this week that Florida’s move to create a “violent extremism” portal could mark an attempt to restrict speech.

“Let me be clear: We respect the First Amendment more than anybody,” Uthmeier said. “We’re not going to be the cancel culture that we’ve seen for so long from the Left. We’re not going to believe in silencing individuals. But we must protect before someone gets shot or people are injured.”

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Kamoutsas defended the right of the state to target the speech of public school teachers paid with taxpayer dollars.

“Educators must always remember that their words matter,” the education commissioner said. “Students look to teachers as role models, and comments that celebrate violence in schools encourage young, impressionable minds to engage in violent behavior.”