Senseless shooting
By Brian Kirwin | Saturday, January 8th, 2011 | PolicyArizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot today at a constituent event.
Story here.
I can’t put into words how senseless this is, and how horrible these heinous actions are. Several staffers were shot as well. Reports are the shooter is in custody.
The Congresswoman is reportedly in critical condition.
Representative Scott Rigell (VA-02) released the following statement today following the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords:
“I am deeply grieved and saddened to hear that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was brutally attacked. Teri and I pray for those who lost their lives, those who were wounded and their families.”
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The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
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39 Responses to "Senseless shooting"
This is really awful. She is highly respected in a very competitive district in southern Arizona. Her family includes her husband who is a Navy Captain and NASA shuttle astronaut. My prayers and sympathies go out to Rep. Giffords, her family, and her staff and their families.
Fortunately, the shooter is in custody.
Can you believe that the gun-grabbers are already out in force? We don’t know if Rep. Gifford is going to survive or not, we don’t know anything about the shooter or the gun he used, but the local Democratic County Chairman was just on CNN making a political statement about a gun control measure that the state legislature in Arizona is considering.
What a slimy piece of crap.
@HisRoc –
Completely agree. Let’s get the facts, pray for the victims and their families, and take appropriate actions.
Without knowing the motivations of the shooter, there’s no point in speculating. Those who play politics with this without having all the facts should be driven out from responsible political discourse.
22 years old. Way too impressionable.
…and it does turn out that this guy was, indeed, batshit crazy:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Classitup10#p/a/u/1/nHoaZaLbqB4
Mind control. His favorites include the Communist Manifesto and Mein Kampf. Not sure this fellow had a political ideology…
This was entirely predictable. This was one of your “Second Amendment” remedies the right wing has been threatening with. Naturally, you are pre-emptively declaring him “crazy” so you don’t have to take ownership of this crime, but it was entirely predictable.
You guys are spinning like crazy, aren’t you. Giffords was on Sarah Palin’s notorious “gunsight” hit list.
http://www.the-richmonder.com/2011/01/right-wing-gunman-shoots-democratic.html
Only a callous, heartless, and gutless human being would attach the actions of a maniac to any political figure or party of either side. Anyone willing to shoot a congresswomen point blank bespeaks to a special kind of crazy and evil that nobody with a heart or a sense of decency could place blame for this on a mainstream political leader.
Richmonder, you are a terrible human being and those of you on the left who believe that somehow Sarah Palin is to blame for this. This is evil, pure and simple. I remember the rhetoric against President Bush and it was pretty heated. There was the left-winger who attacked the Discovery offices in Maryland, and the various shots fired at army recruiting stations and the Marine museum.
Crazy is crazy, and for you to put the blame of this on anyone but the this terrible kid is ignorant and disgusting.
Richmonder,
Take a deep breath. You sound like a hyper-ventilating mouth-breather. You have no idea what the shooter’s motives were or whereand how he got his gun. Yes, we are pre-emptively (sic) calling him crazy. How else would you describe someone who shoots 18 people at close range, including a nine-year-old little girl?
Your attempt to politicize this tragedy, dragging in the Second Amendment debate and Sarah Palin, is disgusting.
Girl claiming to have gone to high school with the shooter
“As I knew him he was left wing, quite liberal. & oddly obsessed with the 2012 prophecy.”
http://www.businessinsider.com/woman-who-says-she-went-to-school-with-alleged-shooter-says-he-met-giffords-in-2007-2011-1#ixzz1AUDCsPTw
And Daily Kos demanded its readers ‘target’ Giffords as well.
And there is the possibility of the judge who was killed being the target. He has numerous death threats due to his immigration rulings.
Well gents, for the record, I am pro-gun. I have long enjoyed target shooting with pistols: Sigma 40, Beretta 92 FS, and Glock 17L. Moreover, this event has convinced me that I need a concealed carry license. I frequently attend Democratic Party events and in the future I will be exercising my 2nd Amendment rights by carrying a weapon to use against right wingers who’ve listened to a little too much Glenn Beck.
And when you do that and make national headlines Richmonder, we’ll be here saying that it wasn’t because he was a liberal…he was just crazy.
That, as they say, would be the point.
No Michael, I’m just an average American citizen exercising his 2nd amendment rights. Many people on this blog claim to support the 2nd amendment–or is that support conditioned on someone being a Republican or a conservative? Democrats have 2nd amendment rights too, and it is clear that it is time for us to begin exercising them in a more vigorous fashion.
Incidentally, Keith Olbermann will be airing a special edition of “Countdown” tonight on MSNBC at 8 PM EST. I hope all of you will tune in.
Richmonder, there is absolutely no evidence that this guy listened to any kind of “right wing rhetoric” and if the stuff people who claim to have known him have said on Twitter is true, it’s the exactly opposite.
If you want to have a discussion about inflammatory rhetoric, that’s fine – but this isn’t the time to be doing it. Rhetoric from the right didn’t cause this. This guy was crazy.
Richmonder, I’m very tempted to forward your remarks to the police. That was a direct threat.
Well Brian, let’s just say that crazy people always seem drawn to Democratic events and they never seem to show up at Republican events. Let’s be very clear: I do not advocate vengeance or violence or attacking anyone. I do believe that people in the United States have the right to defend themselves. I’m a little surprised that so many people on this site don’t believe that Democrats have the right to shoot back at “crazy” people when they attack at the event.
Let’s be very, very clear: I believe that when someone opens fire at a Democratic event, then it would be a good thing if at least one responsible Democrat with a concealed carry license was present to shoot back so as to limit the number of innocent victims.
I frankly am surprised at the amount of resistance on this site to the idea of Democrats exercising their 2nd amendment rights. Is there a double-standard operating here?
I’ve seen plenty of crazies show up at Republican events. Does no one remember 2003-2008? When there was all kinds of rhetoric from the left about the Iraq War? The protests? Calling Bush Hitler and a war criminal? Hanging him in effigy?
I don’t have a problem with you defending yourself Richmonder, but that’s something you should be doing anyway, regardless of this event.
Richmonder, Dan is right. You might want to clarify your statement about carrying so you can shoot a Glenn Beck fan. I HOPE you meant carry in case some crazed listener opens fire and you need to defend yourself.
Then there is what seems to be the issue of whether you are of sound mental state. Granted I am a Libertarian, but even 99% Republicans would respect your right to be armed unless you spout off things that make you come across as being a bit unhinged. Like thinking radio or the current conservative ideology will cause normal people to start picking off people they have a philisophical difference with. Thinking only right wingers are crazy isn’t just incorrect, it would indicate that you don’t have a firm grip on reality.
It is my hope that you are just engaging in inflammatory rhetoric and just trying to have fun with the Repubs. Even so, I would advise you to tone it down, because Dan is indeed correct. The context of what you said could be interpreted as intent to do unjustified harm.
As long as you are committed to a strategy of spinning Republican involvement in today’s tragedy, you probably should watch this and be prepared to respond to questions about these quotes:
Richmonder,
“…crazy people always seem drawn to Democratic events and they never seem to show up at Republican events.”
I don’t suppose that you’ve ever heard of John Hinckley, Sara Jane Moore, or Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme?
Richmonder=Troll
Posted after you Richmonder. Thank you for the clarification. I feel much better.
Wow, the thought of a Democrat carrying a weapon to defend himself really upsets many of you, doesn’t it?
No need to worry guys: I am carrying strictly in the name of self-defense. I really hope you don’t mind my exercising my 2nd amendment rights. A few minutes ago you were howling, assuming that I was some gun control nut. Now it’s you guys who sound like a bunch of gun-banning hippies just because I might be packing.
Very interesting.
Troubled, sick, twisted, and obviously unhinged. And Richmonder’s self-aggrandizing transparent attempt to reshape this tragedy into a political debate is pretty slimy, also.
As the investigation unfolds this will likely play out as 6 dead because another mentally ill person slipped through the cracks that privacy and mental health laws unintentionally create.
BTW – It’s mentioned only as an aside in most of the news reports, but it’s pretty damn awesome the shooter was tackled and captured by an Aide and other event attendees.
Quite frankly, Richmonder sounds almost as delusional as the Tucson shooter.
“Wow, the thought of a Democrat carrying a weapon to defend himself really upsets many of you, doesn’t it?”
I haven’t read anything on this thread or blog that would indicate that anyone is bothered by a Democrat carrying a weapon, so I have no idea what he is referring to. But, not to worry, Richmonder. Just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean that “they” aren’t out to get you.
Well, so much for the 2nd amendment. I guess I’ll just put Bearing Drift down as a bunch of gun controllers.
Absolutely right, Jay D.
Whether it was that, the tackling of the underwearbomber, or possibly the 9-11 flight downed in Pennsylvania, there are way too many instances where fellow citizens are the “real” first responders. Another reason to be armed.
Big Government can’t get there in time or stop it. Even if you successfully remove guns you still have bombs. The killers will kill. Easier to have a concealed carrying citizen stop a guy like this than stopping a bomb.
If a few VCDL guys were in attendaance, I am sure this nut case would have probably shot a few people, but likely he would have been stopped before killing as many as he did.
Rushing a terrorist with box cutters empty handed, or unarmed against a guy with serious fire power, people like that are heros. God knows we need a few heros. It makes you think man kind has a chance of making it.
See Britt, you and I actually agree on this. I’m just saying that maybe I should bring something along when I attend Democratic political events to reduce the carnage if something tragic should occur. I’m already a target shooter, it just makes sense to carry to the next level of becoming a self-defense shooter.
Guys, a NINE YEAR OLD WAS MURDERED today.
Chill the hell out!
Brian is right. There were more victims than the Congresswoman. None of them asked for it, and no political rhetoric I know has been aimed at nine year olds.
Brian is right. We should put partisan eye poking aside for once and focus on what really matters. To do otherwise makes us look pretty darn ugly.
My prayers and good thoughts will be focused on all the victims and their families.
Well I for one agree. We really need to set partisan concerns aside. That is why I know it will concern no one if we Democrats purchase concealable pistols for our own self-defense. Thanks for the support of the Bearing Drift community.
Amazing.
RD,
Do you really think that you are worrying or threatening anyone here with your silly assertions about carrying concealed? One word of advice: don’t shoot your own cajones off trying to pull it out of your pants.
Sorry I’m late to the discussion, but I have to say a couple of things.
It appears that our liberal friends are having a “Bloomberg Moment.” They shoot off their mouths at the white Tea Party guy changing his shirt in the 100 degree weather before having all the facts. Seems Paul Krugman and the crosshairs of Sarah Palin’s map is on display.
Wish the remaining victims recover.
His YouTube videos are weird and I guess they’ve removed his myspace page.
@Richmond,
Is that the best videos you can come up with… because I can pull up some left wing videos that will make these look like they’re praying. But I’ll leave that for another day for now.
How long did it take for your side to claim that G.W. Bush was politicizing September 11th?
I can’t remember how long it took, something in the manner of days as I recall. But, boy, you have set the land speed record on this one, haven’t you?
I mean, the bodies of the dead aren’t even cold and you’ve tried and convicted the entire Republican Party.
Never mind that the shooter may have been insane, or worse *gasp*, not a right-winger.
This is the danger of jumping out first to make a political point of an unexpected occurance of tragedy.
By the way, if your idea of threatening people is to say that you might have a gun on your person, then you’ve been hanging around with Democrats for too long.
For God’s sake. Drop the political crap for at least a little while.
There are a lot of people dead, including a nine-year-old girl and a federal judge.
How long did it take for you, between the time that you learned of the shooting and the first clicking on your keyboard?
Pathetic and inhuman.
This conversation has been rather more reserved then I expected.
For myself, I will say that I see nothing in this instance that proves we should overthrow 2nd Amendment Rights. We have to take the bad with the good.
I do not think that those who are intent on causing harm will be deterred by restricting rights to keep and bear arms. If the harm was not caused by firearms, how else could the same amount of harm be caused by other means?
Bad people will always find ways to be bad. Let’s not remove the power of good people to be good when confronted with bad people.
In other words, I hope we do not overreact.
Truly comical. At the beginning of this thread you were accusing Democrats of being anti-gun; now you seem threatened by the idea that Democrats can and will carry guns to defend themselves against “crazy” people. Talk about a double standard . . .
Richmonder,
Do you think the families and friends of those hurt and killed care one iota about the political garbage right now?
You are nothing but an opportunistic slime bag. Enjoy your soapbox while the rest of us keep these people in our thoughts and prayers. They deserve better.
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