my congresswoman was shot today

[emily_in_nc]

The other part that bothers me is that I have relatives who probably are cheering...

How horrible! I seriously can't imagine that anyone would be so cruel or callous. I hope that you are wrong.

[KnottedYet]

How horrible! I seriously can't imagine that anyone would be so cruel or callous. I hope that you are wrong.

Giffords was on the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

There is a lot of cruelty and callousness in this world. Be grateful you've never had to face it. There are people who cheer "God's Success" whenever a gay or gay-seeming child kills himself. There are people who tell the children of gay parents that God and Jesus want them to kill themselves (my minister's children were told this by two of their teachers in public school.)

It's ugly in the real world, and far too few people give a damn.

[Trek420]

I think if any good can come of this is if learn to tone it down especially the hate. For one thing you never know who it will incite. So I think right now you can hear from Alaska a relieved "whew".

We may find out the suspect (innocent till proven ...) is nucking futs; not right or left or fundamentalist or any 'ist just nucking futz.

Say he wasn't (although by definition shooting unarmed helpless people including children .... nucking futz) but say he got his motive from either Red or Blue .... we'd have mayhem and chaos in this country.

And for a moment today I think we came close.

People please if you want to target someone you disagree with target them for lunch, target them for "I'm gonna invite you out for a beer and conversation", "I'm targeting you for a bike ride or at least the recovery beverage".

We hate and fear the unknown.

[Catrin]

I am speechless, this is the first I heard of this terrible event. I do not understand how anyone can ever think that murdering people you do not agree with is the answer.

Knotted, my jaw dropped when I read what was said to your ministers children...

[OakLeaf]

How about some sympathy for Judge John Roll, too.

[Koronin]

We heard about this on our way home from checking on a couple of housing communities. We're just starting to look at possibly buying a home. We had a sports radio channel on and they mentioned a college basketball game being postponed due to a mass shooting. We were like WHAT? Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families of those who were injured and died.

[Aggie_Ama]

My biggest problem with this is that whatever the motive (politics, crazy, etc) someone thought this was the right course. I have a lot of problems with handguns (report I read said this was one) due to my personal experience with a murder of someone and the shooters known problems with mental illness. If he was indeed known to be mentally ill how was he allowed a gun? Was it an illegal acquisition? Red/blue it doesn't matter, there are people on many sides who see little value in a life that doesn't agree with them. No one's difference in opinion from mine is even worth a slap let alone their life. Differences in opinion make the world one I enjoy, sadly not everyone can live this way which is just beyond my comprehension.

[azfiddle]

Thank you all for your comments and concerns. I really believe Gabby Giffords exemplifies the best qualities of an elected representative. I am heartsick over the extent of the tragedy and the injuries and loss of innocent lives. No matter what- if Gabby pulls through, her life will be irrevocably impacted.

Although the shooter seemed to be unbalanced, some of his postings refer to topics such as returning to a currency backed by gold and silver- currently in vogue among some of the more extreme voices out there.

No matter what one's politics are- civil discourse is essential for solving our problems. In this age of the 24 hour news cycle - we need those in the media to distinguish clearly between fact and opinion, and political leaders to actively speak up against threats or intimations of violence - and not to condone or turn a blind those who espouse violence against those they disagree .

It has been a very sad day in Tucson