GUILTY AZ - Six killed, 13 injured in shooting at Gabrielle Giffords event, 8 Jan 2011 - #1

[Cypros]

I'm praying for her. This is absolutely horrible that an elected official can't have a meeting with her constituents outside a supermarket on a Saturday morning without someone trying to kill her and others. The poor, innocent little girl who died.....:cry: MOO

I share your sentiments. All of the victims were innocent.

 

[Penelope]

Penelope, I am a woman also. And, I care about the rights of women (and anyone else). I honor the sacredness of humanity, whether female or male. This was a troubled individual who did this, and I don't understand why you are raising the male/female thing. Peace and love to all. (o.k., I'm sounding a bit like a "hippy/ love child" here. didn't mean to.)

I guess I am just having a bad day! :O( It just seems like women and children are really under attack these days. Years ago, there seems to have been more respect for them and now... well as Websleuthers, we know all the horror stories of violence against women and children.

I am just shocked that someone can just go up to someone in the midst of a crowd and just shoot her in the head! Yes, maybe this guy is mentally ill, but women and children used to be "off-limits" and are now right in the middle of the battlefield. It's very disturbing.

My late husband was a Native American Elder and Traditional Healer. I still follow a lot of his teachings, and two important ones are:

1. Never hit or abuse a woman -- because women are the creators of life, striking a woman is equal to striking the Creator (or God).

2. Never slap or hit a child or adult in the face or head -- the head is sacred and to do so could have bad consequences.

The way I look at it, men are important, too, but the women and the children must be respected and protected to protect the future. It sounds like a very traditional idea, but I believe that once respect for women and children doesn't exist anymore, our society is really going to be in trouble!

 

[panthera]

I share your sentiments. All of the victims were innocent.

Of course they all were, but my heart just breaks even more so for the little child. :cry:

 

[Moe]

I've been to many Congress on the Corner events, it is Democracy at it's best. People freely share ideas and opinions with their Congress person. It never occurred to me that some nut could ruin this for everyone.

 

[Dr. Know?]

Man linked to Giffords shooting called 'very disturbed'


http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_91db5db4-1b74-11e0-ba23-001cc4c002e0.html

 

[Nancy2441]

I wonder if this will be the end of meet and greet between congresspersons and their constituents. I can see in the future of everything being on facebook, Youtube etc. with no public meetings.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

Man linked to Giffords shooting called 'very disturbed'


http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/article_91db5db4-1b74-11e0-ba23-001cc4c002e0.html

Understatement of the year.

 

[Moe]

I wonder if this will be the end of meet and greet between congresspersons and their constituents. I can see in the future of everything being on facebook, Youtube etc. with no public meetings.

That my friend would be a shame! I have to agree though, there are so many nuts out there.

 

[KaylynnCouture]

I wonder if this will be the end of meet and greet between congresspersons and their constituents. I can see in the future of everything being on facebook, Youtube etc. with no public meetings.

I agree, I think at the very least the meetings will come with very highly increased security presence in the future.

 

[anyoldtime48]

Most of his ramblings brought together in one spot (text only). His brain surely seems to flowchart things a bit bass ackwards.

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRang...he-crazed-internet-rantings-of-jared-loughner

 

[gelfie68]

This tragedy hits a little too close to home. I am the parent of a child with mental illness. They are in the same age range as well. I am in constant contact with my child. "How are you?" "Are you med compliant?" "Did you go to therapy?" I read their blogs, and posts and watch their videos on YT.

It hurts in an odd way to read these stories and watch the complete unraveling of a human mind in this way. Was no one there to witness or to help with this blatant loss of reality? I grieve on so many levels with this tragedy.

All I can do right now is just watch and read as the history of this young man unfolds and wait for the world, the parents, the friends and the finger pointers try to put the pieces together to form the horrible picture. All those people's sense of normalcy~gone in the blink of an eye.

My heart and my prayers go out to everyone affected by this event.

 

[Nova]

This tragedy hits a little too close to home. I am the parent of a child with mental illness. They are in the same age range as well. I am in constant contact with my child. "How are you?" "Are you med compliant?" "Did you go to therapy?" I read their blogs, and posts and watch their videos on YT.

It hurts in an odd way to read these stories and watch the complete unraveling of a human mind in this way. Was no one there to witness or to help with this blatant loss of reality? I grieve on so many levels with this tragedy.

All I can do right now is just watch and read as the history of this young man unfolds and wait for the world, the parents, the friends and the finger pointers try to put the pieces together to form the horrible picture. All those people's sense of normalcy~gone in the blink of an eye.

My heart and my prayers go out to everyone affected by this event.

I know you know this, gelfie, but I want to add that the vast majority of those with mental illness, even schizophrenia, never pose a harm to others.

God bless you and your child.

 

[Steely Dan]

I just got to this thread so if this has been posted before sorry; http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us/politics/09giffords.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

This is just sick. That's all I've got for now.

 

[Dr. Know?]

This tragedy hits a little too close to home. I am the parent of a child with mental illness. They are in the same age range as well. I am in constant contact with my child. "How are you?" "Are you med compliant?" "Did you go to therapy?" I read their blogs, and posts and watch their videos on YT.

It hurts in an odd way to read these stories and watch the complete unraveling of a human mind in this way. Was no one there to witness or to help with this blatant loss of reality? I grieve on so many levels with this tragedy.

All I can do right now is just watch and read as the history of this young man unfolds and wait for the world, the parents, the friends and the finger pointers try to put the pieces together to form the horrible picture. All those people's sense of normalcy~gone in the blink of an eye.

My heart and my prayers go out to everyone affected by this event.

Gelfie, big hugs to you!

 

[panthera]

This tragedy hits a little too close to home. I am the parent of a child with mental illness. They are in the same age range as well. I am in constant contact with my child. "How are you?" "Are you med compliant?" "Did you go to therapy?" I read their blogs, and posts and watch their videos on YT.

It hurts in an odd way to read these stories and watch the complete unraveling of a human mind in this way. Was no one there to witness or to help with this blatant loss of reality? I grieve on so many levels with this tragedy.

All I can do right now is just watch and read as the history of this young man unfolds and wait for the world, the parents, the friends and the finger pointers try to put the pieces together to form the horrible picture. All those people's sense of normalcy~gone in the blink of an eye.

My heart and my prayers go out to everyone affected by this event.

In my opinion, most of the time when something like this happens, it isn't someone who has been diagnosed. Thankfully your son has a mother who obviously cares about him. Bless you. MOO

 

[gelfie68]

I know you know this, gelfie, but I want to add that the vast majority of those with mental illness, even schizophrenia, never pose a harm to others.

God bless you and your child.

Thank you Nova.

 

[gelfie68]

In my opinion, most of the time when something like this happens, it isn't someone who has been diagnosed. Thankfully your son has a mother who obviously cares about him. Bless you. MOO

Thank you and BBM~ That's just it isn't it? Was there NO ONE in this young man's life that went WTH? Questioned something? I think that is what is so hard to take. Are we so jaded or fearful to say something or ask if there is something wrong? I know I am a dreamer, I can't fix everyone and everything. I also know you can't help some one who doesn't want it. <sigh>

 

[hockeymom]

This tragedy hits a little too close to home. I am the parent of a child with mental illness. They are in the same age range as well. I am in constant contact with my child. "How are you?" "Are you med compliant?" "Did you go to therapy?" I read their blogs, and posts and watch their videos on YT.

It hurts in an odd way to read these stories and watch the complete unraveling of a human mind in this way. Was no one there to witness or to help with this blatant loss of reality? I grieve on so many levels with this tragedy.

All I can do right now is just watch and read as the history of this young man unfolds and wait for the world, the parents, the friends and the finger pointers try to put the pieces together to form the horrible picture. All those people's sense of normalcy~gone in the blink of an eye.

My heart and my prayers go out to everyone affected by this event.

I am so sorry for what you must go through. Most people don't understand mental illness at all unless they have had some first hand knowledge. I worked in a psych hospital for years and know that it is very rare for someone to act violently toward someone else. Usually it is themselves that they try to hurt. Although I don't have any idea the involvement of this young man's family and friends,your child is fortunate to have someone like you who does moniter their behavior. I'm sure people won't want to hear this,but I do have some sympathy for this man. He must lead an extremely tortured life. I'm not making excuses for him,he must suffer the consequences,but he clearly lives in some altered state of reality. I'm sorry that those close to him could not get him the help he so desperatly needed. Now so many senseless deaths. It's so sad all the way around.

 

[Steely Dan]

I'm glad he survived because there may be a lot more to this than we know. I found this particularly depraved.

Link

Giffords Opponent, Jesse Kelly, Held June Event to “Shoot a Fully Automatic M16&#8243; to “Get on Target” and “Remove Gabrielle Giffords”By: Jane Hamsher Saturday January 8, 2011 11:43 am

Per Puppethead in the comments, Giffords’ 2010 Congressional opponent Jesse Kelly held a June 12 gun event that was billed as follows on the Pima County Republican website:

"Get on Target for Victory in November Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office Shot a fully automatic M15 with Jesse Kelly"

Kelly’s website has apparently scrubbed the event , but here is the account from the Arizona Daily Star:

Jesse Kelly, meanwhile, doesn’t seem to be bothered in the least by the Sarah Palin controversy earlier this year, when she released a list of targeted races in crosshairs, urging followers to “reload” and “aim” for Democrats. Critics said she was inciting violence.

He seems to be embracing his fellow tea partier’s idea. Kelly’s campaign event website has a stern-looking photo of the former Marine in military garb holding his weapon. It includes the headline: “Get on Target for Victory in November. Help remove Gabrielle Giffords from office. Shoot a fully automatic M16 with Jesse Kelly.”

The event costs $50....


He canceled it but it appears he may have gotten his point across.

 

[Steely Dan]

This tragedy hits a little too close to home. I am the parent of a child with mental illness. They are in the same age range as well. I am in constant contact with my child. "How are you?" "Are you med compliant?" "Did you go to therapy?" I read their blogs, and posts and watch their videos on YT.

It hurts in an odd way to read these stories and watch the complete unraveling of a human mind in this way. Was no one there to witness or to help with this blatant loss of reality? I grieve on so many levels with this tragedy.

All I can do right now is just watch and read as the history of this young man unfolds and wait for the world, the parents, the friends and the finger pointers try to put the pieces together to form the horrible picture. All those people's sense of normalcy~gone in the blink of an eye.

My heart and my prayers go out to everyone affected by this event.

Gelfie, I'm sure this kid and your kid are similar as oil and water. I wouldn't worry too much.