DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Arizona Congresswoman was shot at Public Event in Tuscon

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Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Shot By Gunman
by NPR STAFF


Drew Angerer/AP
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was re-elected to a third term in November.
text size A A A January 8, 2011
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head by a gunman at a public event in Tucson on Saturday. There are conflicting reports about whether she was killed.

The Pima County, Ariz., sheriff's office told member station KJZZ the 40-year-old Democrat was killed. At least nine other people, including members of her staff, were injured.

Giffords, who was re-elected to a third term in November, was hosting a "Congress on Your Corner" event at a Safeway in northwest Tucson when a gunman ran up and started shooting, according to Peter Michaels, news director of Arizona Public Media.

Giffords was talking to a couple when the suspect ran up and fired indiscriminately from about four feet away, Michaels said.


EnlargeSusan Walsh/AP
Giffords poses with House Speaker John Boehner on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
The suspect ran off and was tackled by a bystander. He was taken into custody. Witnesses described him as in his late teens or early 20s.

Giffords was transported to University Medical Center in Tucson.

Giffords was first elected to represent Arizona's 8th District in 2006. The "Congress on Your Corner" events, which she holds regularly, allow constituents to present their concerns directly to her.

Giffords is married to astronaut Mark Kelly, a veteran of Desert Storm. They have two children.

I wonder how Sarah Palin and her crosshairs feels right now.

I'm praying for Congresswoman Giffords, her family and all the other victims and their families. This is a terrible day for this country.

This is horrific. My prayers are with the Congresswoman and her family. Hope she can pull through. Last I heard she was in critical condition but was responsive.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head Saturday when an assailant opened fire outside a grocery store during a meeting with constituents, killing at least five people and wounding several others in a rampage that rattled the nation.

Giffords was among at least 10 people wounded, and the hospital said her outlook was "optimistic" and that she was responding to commands from doctors. The hospital said a 9-year-old child was among the killed, and a U.S. Marshal said a federal judge was also fatally shot in the attack.

Giffords spokesman C.J. Karamargin said an unspecified number of her staff members were injured in the shooting. Congressional officials said an aide to the Democrat was killed, and President Barack Obama said five people died in all.

Police say the shooter was in custody, and was identified by people familiar with the investigation as Jared Loughner, 22. Pima County Sheriff's officials said he used a pistol to carry out the shooting spree. U.S. officials who provided his name to the AP spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release it publicly.

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Hopefully she is not hurt too bad, but 5 people died... very sad.

HuffingtonPost will politicize this to no end--they hate Sarah with a passion I have never seen. They already have an article about Sarah and her crosshairs.

web page


Beyond that, don't lose site that this tragedy took the life of a 9 year old.

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The hospital said a 9-year-old child was among the killed, and a federal judge was also fatally shot.

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MSNBC


I honestly don't know what is more shocking, the fact that this occurred, or the fact that this doesn't surprise me that this occurred given the idiocy that is sweeping the nation.

This is a sad state of affairs. I hope this is not the beginning of this country becoming like Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan where political assassinations become routine.

People use those kinds of analogies all the time. Especially in football. So, if a crazy fan takes that and does harm to someone from a rival team we should blame the coach or the player who uses that analogy? Right.....

Quote:

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Even if there is no linkage, which clearly has not been demonstrated, the circumstances will now bear the weight of association.

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You are without a doubt correct.

Quote:

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People who use crosshairs in a website to target congressional elections should think a bit more about the potential implications.

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and there's your stance.

The shame of it all is that Palin's tactics should not be the point to all of this. The shame of it all is that such things diminish the personal responsibility of the filth that did this, at least imo. Huff Post is a rag - divisive and often unbecoming. Again, just my opinion.

I hope Arizona has the death penalty.

Very sad turn of events,, I hope she pulls through.

And The Daily Kos put a bullseye on her as well. Let's blame them and not the nut-job. After all, they are the responsible party.





I want to target a top notch head coach, aim to kill the Steelers, and have a bullseye on Ray Lewis and the Ravens. Look out everybody!

What a sad story. Prayers to all those involved.

They said on CNN the bullet went straight through her head. Is that better or worse than the bullet being lodged in her head?

Hopefully the killer gets what's coming to him.

The congresswoman Giffords had received threats and vandalism to her office after the health care vote. And people like Palin have to understand that when they put crosshairs on a person, there is a very small part of our society that are friggin nuts and take this different than the rest of us.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7072ON20110108

Giffords had faced threats, vandalism previously


CORRECTION - - UPDATE 7-U.S. congresswoman wounded, five killed in shooting
Law enforcement personnel work a crime scene where U.S Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was shot along with others at a Safeway in Tucson, Arizona January 8, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Eric Thayer

WASHINGTON | Sat Jan 8, 2011 6:26pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Representative Gabrielle Giffords, the lawmaker shot by a gunman in her Arizona district on Saturday, had previously warned that overheated political rhetoric had prompted violent threats against her and vandalism at her office.

"It's important for all leaders ... to say, 'Look, we can't stand for this," Giffords told MSNBC last March, when a window in her Tucson office was smashed after Congress passed President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare overhaul.

Giffords said she faced a deluge of threats for her support of the healthcare bill.

"We've had hundreds and hundreds of protesters over the course of the last couple of months," Giffords told MSNBC. "Our office corner has really become an area where the Tea Party movement congregates and the rhetoric is really heated. Not just the calls but the e-mails, the slurs."

A Democrat with a centrist voting record who had just begun her third term, Giffords fended off a tough challenge last year from Republicans who hoped to win control of the politically competitive district.

Her opponent in the November election urged followers to "Get on target for victory" and help "remove" Giffords from office at a June event in which participants could shoot an automatic rifle.

Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, a prominent conservative, for months used a graphic of a gun cross-hairs to urge followers to "reload" and "aim" for Giffords and other Democrats.

"When people do that, they've got to realize that there's consequences to that action," Giffords told MSNBC.

On Saturday, Palin had removed the graphic from her website and offered her condolences on a posting on Facebook.

"We all pray for the victims and their families, and for peace and justice," Palin said, speaking of Saturday's shooting when at least five were killed and 18 in all shot.

Giffords' shooting was condemned by politicians across the political spectrum. House Republican leader Eric Cantor suggested he may delay a vote scheduled for next week to repeal the healthcare law.

"We will remain in constant communication regarding any schedule changes," Cantor said in a statement, adding that he was "deeply horrified" by the shooting.

It all depends on what part of her brain was affected. I hope it's somewhere where she's able to completely recover.

Here are some of the crazy internet ramblings of Jared Loughner, the shooter from today.


News The Crazed Internet Rantings of Jared Loughner
Posted by Dan Gibson on Sat, Jan 8, 2011 at 4:09 PM



It appears that this YouTube clip is of Jared Loughner, in custody for the shooting at Safeway this morning.


My son is 9 years old, so when I heard from UMC's Dr. Peter Rhee that a child of the same age is among the confirmed dead from the shooting at Safeway on Ina and Oracle roads, this whole event became even harder to take. I try to take my son to events where politicians appear to try to expose him to newsmakers and the world around him, and while we're on the other side of town from today's shooting, what separates my family from being involved in something like this is that this Safeway was within walking distance of Loughner's family's house, and not mine. It's a little tough to process.

I guess you want to blame a movement or radical belief for what happened, so that there's someone to blame bigger than just one shooter or that the madness makes a little sense, but after poring over the digital remnants left behind by Jared Loughner across the Internet, the one thing I feel like I can say about the 22 year old is that he seems to be someone desperately needing mental health care.

There are certainly themes that run through his videos and postings: the unconstitutionality of various institutions (including Pima Community College), remarks about "rare birds" and the use of language that would imply that Loughner didn't expect to be around for long (his last Myspace post, from this morning, was "Goodbye friends"), but otherwise, it's impossible to make sense of most of it.

For example, here's a selection of what Loughner left on someone's MySpace page:



If there's no flag in the constitution then the flag in the film is unknown.
There's no flag in the constitution.
Therefore, the flag in the film is unknown.
Burn every new and old flag that you see.
Burn your flag!
I bet you can imagine this in your mind with a faster speed.
Watch this protest in reverse!
Ask the local police; "What's your illegal activity on duty?".
If you protest the government then there's a new government from protesting.
There's not a new government from protesting.
Thus, you aren't protesting the government.
There's something important in this video: There's no communication to anyone in this location.
You shouldn't be afraid of the stars.
There's a new bird on my right shoulder. The beak is two feet and lime green. The rarest bird on earth, there's no feathers, but small grey scales all over the body. It's with one large red eye with a light blue iris. The bird feet are the same as a woodpecker. This new bird and there's only one, the gender is not female or male. The wings of this bird are beautiful; 3 feet wide with the shape of a bald eagle that you could die for. If you can see this bird then you will understand. You think this bird is able to chat about a government?
I want you to imagine a comet or meteoroid coming through the atmosphere.
That was left 77 days ago, but what are you supposed to make of that?

The YouTube clips on his channel are just as wildly confusing. If you can understand what on Earth this means, you're a step ahead of me:


Hello, my name is Jared Lee Loughner.

This video is my introduction to you! My favorite activity is conscience dreaming; the greatest inspiration for my political business information. Some of you don't dream — sadly.

Firstly, the current government officials are in power for their currency, but I'm informing you for your new currency! If you're treasuerer of a new money system, then you're responsible for the distributing of a new currency. We now know — the treasurer for a new money system, is the distributor of the new currency. As a result, the people approve a new money system which is promising new information that's accurate, and we truly believe in a new currency. Above all, you have your new currency, listener?

Secondly, my hope - is for you to be literate! If you're literate in English grammar, then you comprehend English grammar. The majority of poeple, who reside in District 8, are illiterate — hilarious. I don't control your English grammar structure, but you control your English grammar structure.

Thirdly, I know who's listening: Government Officials, and the People. Nearly all the people, who don't know this accurate information of a new currency, aren't aware of mind control and brainwash methods. If I have my civil rights, then this message wouldn't have happen.

In conclusion, my ambition - is for informing literate dreamers about a new currency; in a few days, you know I'm conscience dreaming! Thank you!

The other recent video is longer and maybe a little more distressing, in retrospect, especially considering that he refers to them as his "final thoughts":


My Final Thoughts: Jared Lee Loughner!

Most people, who read this text, forget in the next 2 second!

The population of dreamers in the United States of America is less than 5%!

If 987,123,478,961,876,341,234,098,601,978,618 is the year in B.C.E. then the previous year is 987,123,478,961,876,341,234,098,601,978,619 B.C.E.

987,123,478,961,876,341,234,098,601,978,618 is the year in B.C.E.

Therefore, the previous year of 987,123,478,961,876,341,234,098,601,978,619 B.C.E.

If B.C.E. years are unable to start then A.D.E. years are unable to begin.

B.C.E. years are unable to start.

Thus, A.D.E. years are unable to begin.

If A.D.E. is endless in year then the years in A.D.E. don't cease.

A.D.E. is endless in year.

Therefore, the years in A.D.E. don't cease.

If I teach a mentally capable 8 year old for 20 consecutive minutes to replace an alphabet letter with a new letter and pronunciation then the mentally capable 8 year old writes and pronounces the new letter and pronunciation that's replacing an alphabet letter in 20 consecutive minutes.

I teach a mentally capable 8 year old for 20 consecutive minutes to replace an alphabet letter with a new letter and pronunciation.

Thus, the mentally capable 8 year old writes and pronounces the new letter and pronunciation that replaces an alphabet letter in 20 consecutive minutes.

Every human who's mentally capable is always able to be treasurer of their new currency.

If you create one new currency then you're able to create a second new currency.

If you're able to create second new currency then you're able to create third new currency.

You create one new currency.

Thus, you're able to create a third new currency.

You're a treasurer for a new currency, listener?

You create and distribute your new currency, listener?

You don't allow the government to control your grammar structure, listener?

If you create one new language then you're able to create a second new language.

If you're able to create a second new language then you're able to create a third new language.

You create one new language.

Thus, you're able to create a third new language.

All humans are in need of sleep.

Jared Loughner is a human.

Hence, Jared Loughner is in need of sleep.

Sleepwalking

If I define sleepwalking then sleepwalking is the act or state of walking, eating, or performing other motor acts while asleep, of which one is unaware upon awakening.

I define sleepwalking.

Thus, sleepwalking is the act or state of walking, eating, or performing other motor acts while asleep, of which one is unaware upon awakening.

I'm a sleepwalker - who turns off the alarm clock.

All conscience dreaming at this moment is asleep.

Jared Loughner is conscience dreaming at this moment.

Thus, Jared Loughner is asleep.

Terrorist

If I define terrorist then a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially as a political weapon.

I define terrorist.

This, a terrorist is a person who employs terror or terrorism, especially as a political weapon.

If you call me a terrorist then the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.

You call me a terrorist.

Thus, the argument to call me a terrorist is Ad hominem.

Every United States Military recruit at MEPS in Phoenis is receiving one mini bible before the tests.

Jared Loughner is a United States Military recruit at MEPS in Phoenix.

Therefore, Jared Loughner is receiving one mini bible before the tests.

I didn't write a belief on my Army application, and the recruiter wrote on the application; None.

The majority of citizens in the United States of America have never read the United States of America's Constitution.

You don't have to accept the federalist laws.

Nonetheless, read the United States of America's Constituion to apprehend all of the current treasonous laws.

You're literate, listener?

If the property owners and government officials are no longer in ownership of their land and laws from a revolution then the revolutionary's from the revolution are in control of the land and laws.

The property owners and government officials are no longer in ownership of their land and laws from a revolution.

Thus, the revolutionary's from the revolution are in control of the land and laws.

In conclusion, reading the second United States Constition, I can't trust the current government because of the ratifications: The government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar.

No! I won't pay debt with a currency that's not backed by gold and silver!

No! I won't trust in God!

What's government if words don't have meaning?


Another video, favorited by Loughner, uses "Let The Bodies Hit The Floor" by Drowning Pool as a soundtrack to the burning of an American flag in the desert by a hooded, masked man wearing what appears to be pants made of black garbage bags.

His MySpace page featured a photo of a Glock pistol placed on an American History textbook and listed his favorite books as "Animal Farm, Brave New World, The Wizard Of OZ, Aesop Fables, The Odyssey, Alice Adventures Into Wonderland, Fahrenheit 451, Peter Pan, To Kill A Mockingbird, We The Living, Phantom Toll Booth, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Pulp,Through The Looking Glass, The Communist Manifesto, Siddhartha, The Old Man And The Sea, Gulliver’s Travels, Mein Kampf, The Republic, and Meno", a mess of books with wildly different viewpoints.




From the Arizona Daily Star


There's nothing you can attach philosophically this guy right now, but it seems he had destructive thoughts on his mind for sometime. There's a smiling photo of Loughner at the Star as a volunteer at the Tucson Festival of Books about a year ago. That seems to be a far, far different young man than the one from most recent months, and a million miles away from the gunman who walked to Safeway today.

There are some strange people in this world.

And somebody is going to assign blame to anyone based on those ramblngs? He was apparently rather removed from reality.

At 22 years of age I would have to ask these questions:

Does he have a history of drug abuse?
Does he have a history of being abused?
Does he have or has he been evaluated for any mental condition?
Does he have any prior run-ins with the law?

This is one whacked out dude. I took logic in college and the logic he is employing above is not correct at all-by no means.

this says it all:

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Thus, sleepwalking is the act or state of walking, eating, or performing other motor acts while asleep, of which one is unaware upon awakening.

I'm a sleepwalker - who turns off the alarm clock.

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He is saying he is in a constant state of being asleep and has not woke yet. He is in essence saying he is not responsible for his actions because he is unaware of them.

creepy . . .

Reading some of these things reminded me of one of my Uncles. Sadly, he was schizophrenic and killed himself (about 25 years ago). But my Uncle used to make all of these non-sensical ramblings and was definitely weird. At least in the mind of a 10 year kid. So, I wonder, his friend said he had a lot of friends, but was kinda weird. Then he lost a lot of friends when he got alcohol poisoning. I wonder if he got it because he mixed his anti-psychotic drugs with alcohol and his friends found out. My uncle lost A LOT of his friends when he needed them most.

Just some meandering thoughts...

j/c

This is just terrible. And politics has nothing to do with it, as much as people on both sides of the aisle may try to make it so.

This guy was just an absolute nut case, plain and simple.

Just a terrible tragedy, even if public officials weren't involved.

Schizophrenia rears it's ugly head in the late teens, early 20s. It more than likely would have happened whether he drank or not. We see patients like this all the time.....a normal, intelligent kid goes off to college and becomes psychotic. Everyone assumes it is drug related when in fact it's just the normal disease process, even if there were drugs involved. The affected individual uses drugs to cope with the bizarre thoughts and feelings he's experiencing.

Oh I know. My Uncle's onset was at 19 ish. We all kept a close eye on my cousin (his son) when he hit 16 for any of the signs. My cousin's 34 now - no signs/symptoms at all, thankfully.

Just saying the kid's the right age for it, he's displaying some of the same thought patterns that my Uncle did. I know it's not drugs/alcohol that bring it on. I said perhaps he mixed his psych drugs WITH alcohol and that's why he got the supposed "alcohol poisoning" and his friends found out about the prescription drugs and backed off of him because they're dinks and didn't know how to handle a mentally ill friend - they're all obviously very young/immature.

My Uncle's friends found out about his condition and most of them abandoned their friendship with him. Pretty crappy thing to do, but it happens.

There are some seriously demented people in this world who all they need to go on a rampage is to have someone they obsess over put a crosshair on someone on TV of their web page or whatever.

No way can you blame Sarah Palin for this though. She had nothing to do with it. It was bad taste to do the crosshair thing, but she doesn't have any control over the demented people of the world. Someone could get the idea to kill someone because a care bear in a Toys R Us store told them to do it, does that mean you blame American Greetings? Of course not, the person was demented.

Its a shame that people are even trying to use this incident to paint Sarah Palin as responsible. That is a million times worse than using symbolism in poor taste, which is all she is guilty of. Politics in this country are in such a sad, sad state.

I agree 100% that politics is in a sad state. Nothing can ever happen that isn't someone's fault. Palin, Obama, Clinton, Bush.

Those people do enough to blame on them...but not everything that goes wrong is their fault.

Like I said before, this is just a tragedy. A senseless tragedy.

I'm guessing you only read the first line of my post and then replied?

tl;dr version of it was Sarah Palin isn't to blame, crazy guy is.

Just used her corsshairs as an example of something a crazy person sees and becomes obsessed with.