Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Shot

[fitzley]

My congresswoman for District 8 in Arizona was shot today, within 5 miles of my home. She is expected to survive, but has sustained a bullet wound to the head...so what her future will be like is uncertain.

Ms. Giffords was holding a town hall meeting with local Tucsonians when a 22 year old man walked in and opened fire on her and several others. A federal judge in attendance was killed as well as a 9 year old girl. Others have been killed and injured.

This is a great tragedy that has happened very close to home, I supported Giffords in her recent campaign and I wanted to share it here.

Most likely, politically motivated in some way...I fear the political climate in my country is becoming more and more ugly.

[Hudson]

I recently heard about this and I'd like to ad my own anecdote:

When the Northern Illinois University shooting happened in 2008, the perpetrator lived across the street from where I worked. He lived in the apartment complex RIGHT across the street. A relative of mine was injured in the shooting. My grandfather's best friend's grandson was injured in the shooting. The shooting took place where I used to live, only about two hours north from my current home town.

These events should never be taken likely. You always thing "it could've been me." Well...I understand someone posting here and being fearful of something that happened near to them. As you can see, nearly three years ago I was just as shook up.

[Hieronymus]

It looks like the shooter was politically motivated, at least in the generic anti-government sense.  However, his political inclinations are a bit harder to discern.  At least one person described him as a "left-wing radical" and one of his favorite books was apparently the Communist Manifesto.

On the other hand, his other favorite books were reportedly Mein Kampf and We the Living (an anti-communist book by Ayn Rand).  He also apparently had strong feelings on the gold standard.  These don't suggest "left-wing radical" so much as "tea partier."

Then again, his final entry on his MySpace page apparently had a screed about government mind control, so it's possible that he's just nuts.

[beckmen]

Not self-motivated political assassins are, aren't they? You have to be a little nuts to throw your life away just to cause a week's worth of stink.

[Dark Star]

Not self-motivated political assassins are, aren't they? You have to be a little nuts to throw your life away just to cause a week's worth of stink.

People have throw away there life for less. But I generally hate politics and try not to get involved, but some people are just to extreme. I'm fortunate that not alot happens in Montana. Except for crazy mountain men that build bombs in the woods and send them to DC and other places.

[fitzley]

Learning some more about him, he was a student at the college I teach out...though I never had him in class. He also lived only two or three miles from me.

All very weird and hitting a little too close to home.

[deezelboy]

Most likely, politically motivated in some way...I fear the political climate in my country is becoming more and more ugly.

Hopefully this may act as the event that cools everything down from now on. 

[beckmen]

Hopefully this may act as the event that cools everything down from now on. 

You're a funny guy, Deez. 

[maledoro]

I'm afraid that because of this, things are starting to heat up.

[Dutch90]

Sarah Palin quickly removed the list of her Democratic opponents who were marked with crosshairs from her website... Obviously it's doubtful this guy was motivated by that seeing as he was simply nuts and not some idiot Tea Party stooge, but still........damn you, Palin.

Apparently Giffords, though a Democrat, was against stricter gun control. Wonder if this'll change her mind.... Yes, I did just start that inevitable discussion, sorry.

[Neltharion]

I doubt this was politically motivated.

The man shot and killed a Conservative Judge, and from my memory of the initial report, a strong right winger as well.

I get my news from John Stewart.

[deezelboy]

The man shot and killed a 9 year old girl!  He clearly wasn't picking political targets after he shot Giffords. 

[Hubbs]

^I don't think he was maybe targeting people but just firing randomly after hitting his main target?
So none of you guys in the US believe Palin and her slightly over the top manner has anything to do with this?? Influentially speaking, many people here in the UK I know fear what might happen if she gets into power ie. The White house, let's face it her views and ways are simply bad news. Her use of the words 'blood libel' in her reaction to the shootings was totally the wrong thing to say even then lol!! and of course the gun targets on oppersition thing is worrying to say the least!

[Hieronymus]

A lot of Americans are saying that it's partially the fault of Palin and Beck and Limbaugh and all of the others.  And it's true that the Fox News crowd really does come within a razor's edge of advocating violence with unsettling frequency, and sometimes they even cross that line and actually call for "second-amendment remedies" or joke about assassinating politicians.  At least one psycho in recent memory had cited Beck as an inspiration for his act, though I can't recall his name or the circumstances (I think he might have shot up a church).

In this particular case, I'm not sure.  As I mentioned, the rants about the gold standard sound like something Rand Paul or his dad might say.  On the other hand, at least one person who knew the shooter described him as "left-wing" and he had criticized the congresswoman before, calling her a "fake" - possibly a reference to her being a more conservative Democrat.  And then there's the bit where the shooter was worried about mind control and control of the population through the manipulation of grammar - I'm inclined to think the shooter is simply nutbars.

Now, being nutbars doesn't mean that Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin didn't say something to set him over the edge.  But at least to me, the matter is not crystal-clear.

[Hubbs]

^ What's yr view on Palin?? and all the other US folk here, you guys like Palin?