Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was among as many as 12 people wounded in a shooting at a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store where she was holding a campaign event.
ABC affiliate KGUN-TV in Tucson reported that as many as 12 people had been shot, including Giffords. A law enforcement source told KGUN that the shooter was in custody.
Giffords, a Democrat, was scheduled to hold a "Congress on Your Corner" event today at a supermarket in northwest Tucson.
It will be interesting to see what kind of extremist was behind the attack, and it is very deeply fortunate that nobody has died (yet), though it's reported that Giffords was shot in the head so there should be some real concern there of her chances to pull through. Unfortunately there's not many details, yet.
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Some teabagger exercising his Second Amendment Option, perchance...?
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Flagg wrote:Giffords is dead according to the banner at MSNBC.com.
Fuck. That shooting took place just 12 miles south of my house. Local news asserts 13 shot, 6 dead. They're just stating that Giffords is wounded, but she did get shot in the head.
Patrick Degan wrote:Some teabagger exercising his Second Amendment Option, perchance...?
She and her office has previously been the target of political vandalism and gunfire; she was one of the targets of the right wing tantrum over health care reform.
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Patrick Degan wrote:Some teabagger exercising his Second Amendment Option, perchance...?
She and her office has previously been the target of political vandalism and gunfire; she was one of the targets of the right wing tantrum over health care reform.
Indeed. And she just barely squeaked by the local Tea Party nutcase to get reelected in a rather vitriolic election. And, the local TV news is now stating that Congresswoman Giffords is, indeed, dead.
ADDENDUM:
Local news is also stating that the gunman is in custody.
Last edited by GrandMasterTerwynn on 2011-01-08 02:28pm, edited 1 time in total.
Patrick Degan wrote:Some teabagger exercising his Second Amendment Option, perchance...?
She and her office has previously been the target of political vandalism and gunfire; she was one of the targets of the right wing tantrum over health care reform.
Gifford was among those in Arizona whose offices were targeted with vandalism and threats during the health care debate in 2009.
(via @nytjim)
Giffords was also one of the lawmakers Sarah Palin "set her sights on" in the Palin PAC infographic below. The congresswoman and others are targeted with simulated gun sights on a map of the United States.
(thanks, @niftyjames)
All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain...
I think it's a bit early to assume this was the work of a rightwing nutbar. I mean it could just as easily have been a random nut who went to the first big crowd they saw. We should know more as the investigation starts.
Still, it's pretty damning that this is the first assumption we make.
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Flagg wrote:I think it's a bit early to assume this was the work of a rightwing nutbar. I mean it could just as easily have been a random nut who went to the first big crowd they saw. We should know more as the investigation starts.
Still, it's pretty damning that this is the first assumption we make.
It's a grocery store holding a campaign event. It wasn't a big secret that she was there.
Flagg wrote:I think it's a bit early to assume this was the work of a rightwing nutbar. I mean it could just as easily have been a random nut who went to the first big crowd they saw. We should know more as the investigation starts.
Still, it's pretty damning that this is the first assumption we make.
According to the reports I'm getting, the gunman made it a point to go right up to Congresswoman Giffords, proceeded to shoot her in the head, and then indiscriminately opened fire on the others at the event before he was subdued by bystanders. So, initial indications are that this was an assassination (attempt). Also, the event was advertised, and there were signs in the area . . . so they would've known that she was, in fact, there.
Local news is backing off from the assertion that Congresswoman Giffords is dead, as there are conflicting reports on that.
Flagg wrote:I think it's a bit early to assume this was the work of a rightwing nutbar. I mean it could just as easily have been a random nut who went to the first big crowd they saw. We should know more as the investigation starts.
Still, it's pretty damning that this is the first assumption we make.
According to the reports I'm getting, the gunman made it a point to go right up to Congresswoman Giffords, proceeded to shoot her in the head, and then indiscriminately opened fire on the others at the event before he was subdued by bystanders. So, initial indications are that this was an assassination (attempt). Also, the event was advertised, and there were signs in the area . . . so they would've known that she was, in fact, there.
That puts things in a different light. I'd still wait for official word on the gunmans motives, though.
We pissing our pants yet?
-Negan
You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
-Negan
He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches.
-George Bernard Shaw
According to the news, Giffords was holding a meet and greet with her constituents at a supermarket and a guy came up, emptied a gun into her and the crowd, and ran. He was then tackled by someone who watched it happen and got arrested. Given how much her "Congress On Your Corner" thing was advertised around her and that the gunman ran as soon as he shot up her crowd, it doesn't seem very likely to me that this was a random act of violence, but rather targeted at her.
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UPDATE: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is in surgery, nine other patients brought in from Tucson shooting, hospital spokeswoman tells Reuters.
An earlier report from National Public Radio said Giffords had died.
“She is currently in surgery. She’s alive,” University Medical Center spokeswoman Darci Slaten told Reuters.
Slaten said there were nine other shooting victims at the hospital with serious injuries.
Re-elected in the Nov. 2 election, Giffords focused on immigration reform, military issues, stem cell research and alternative energy while serving in Congress. She was married to U.S. astronaut Mark Kelly.
Of course, the very same idiots who think it is okay to talk big about how political enemies (or their families) deserve to be killed or set on fire are going to be suspiciously quiet about this.
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I wouldn't be surprised, it's the same state where you've got political leaders calling for "second amendment solutions" if the election doesn't work their way.
Yahoo Canada mentions that an aide died. Giffords is stated to be alive but in critical condition.
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kouchpotato wrote:I wouldn't be surprised, it's the same state where you've got political leaders calling for "second amendment solutions" if the election doesn't work their way.
Wasn't that Nevada? Or did I miss something from Arizona? Even if it was Arizona, I thought that the intention of those making such moronic statements was to refer to armed insurrection, rather than political assassination. They felt (I assume) that if the government of the day would not conform to their notions of constitutionality, then it was left to the People to take their governments back. (I don't believe this crap, I'm just trying to channel it.)
In any case, yeah, this is pretty disgusting. We are supposed to have politics in order to obviate the need for violence between those of differing opinions on how governments ought to be run.
73% of all statistics are made up, including this one.
kouchpotato wrote:I wouldn't be surprised, it's the same state where you've got political leaders calling for "second amendment solutions" if the election doesn't work their way.
Wasn't that Nevada? Or did I miss something from Arizona?
Ah, yes you're correct, it was Mrs. Sharon Angle from Nevada. Jan Brewer is the resident Arizonan crazy teabagger bitch, and as far as I can tell she hasn't called for violence. In any case I retract that, my bad.
SCRawl wrote:
In any case, yeah, this is pretty disgusting. We are supposed to have politics in order to obviate the need for violence between those of differing opinions on how governments ought to be run.
That doesn't count if you disagree with the opposition. Duh. Then murder is totally justified, because otherwise they might do something like better the country at the expense of tax cuts for the billionaires.
kouchpotato wrote:I wouldn't be surprised, it's the same state where you've got political leaders calling for "second amendment solutions" if the election doesn't work their way.
Wasn't that Nevada? Or did I miss something from Arizona?
Ah, yes you're correct, it was Mrs. Sharon Angle from Nevada. Jan Brewer is the resident Arizonan crazy teabagger bitch, and as far as I can tell she hasn't called for violence. In any case I retract that, my bad.
Now that's a truly scary thought. If Giffords dies, or her career in Congress is otherwise ended today; Jan Brewer will be the one to appoint her replacement.
I am (purposely) watching Fox News and they are confirming from police/hospital sources that 5 have died. Another Senator, Linda Lopez (a friend of Giffords) says she was shot in the temple and the bullet passed thorough the skull. She is apparently "responding to commands" in the hospital. So, still alive...
Addendum: Fox News also reporting that at a previous public meet and greet, someone in the crowd "dropped a gun" at that event. She has apparently been targeted in the past.
Also, apparently, someone else in the crowd returned fire at the gunman in an attempt to defend the crowd. This is not confirmed.
