The United States Congress respresentative Gabrielle Giffords was shoot today outside a grocery store in Tuscon, AZ while she was in a meeting with supporters. The shooter who opened fire is said to have killed at least five people and injured several others and is now in custody. His name is Jared Loughner and is 22 years old. He used a pistol to carry out the shootings. Among those killed was a 9 year old child and a federal judge. Although Giffords is in critical condition, her outlook is "optimistic." This attack has shocked the nation and caused an outpouring of sympathy from politicians and people around the country. President Obama said the shooting was, "an unspeakable tragedy" and that "a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society." All Gabrielle Giffords was doing was listening to the hopes and concerns of her neighbors, and that is what we pride our nation to be--a democracy. Loughner, the gunman, used both MySpace and Youtube to describe his wish to invent a new currency and complain about the illiteracy rate in Gillford's district of Arizona. In Gifford's office on Capital Hill, many other congressmen and women walked into her office almost in shock. Some cried and flowers were placed outside her door. Giffords is 40 years old was was re-elected for her third term in November. She was also a member of Arizona's house and senate before become on the the country's represenatives. Right before the shooting she had tweeted, "My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now. Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later." She is married to the astronaut Mark E. Kelly who is training to be the next commander of a space shuttle mission scheduled for April. Gifford's easily won her election in 2006, but with the new Tea Party movement she only narrowly won in 2010. This shooting then occured amid a "highly charged political environment" and numerous threats have been made, but nothing until now was ever carried through. Giffords was in support of the health care bill, which has been the reason behind all the recent threats. Her office was vandalized hours after the House approved the bill. Her house seat was named by Sarah Palin as a "target" in the recent midterm elections. Then in an interview with Fox News Channel only last week Gifford said, "You know, actually as a former Republican, you know, I consider myself someone who is pretty in the middle, I'm a blue dog Democrat, and one that is interested in making sure that our country maintains our prosperity and frankly, our superiority over other countries and that's where we look at these threat, obviously our defense budget, our level of education." Now after today, Capital Police are urging other members of the House to take precautions.
I first heard this story today as I was watching TV at lunch. It was listed as "breaking news" and so right away I though, "Oh no! What's happened?" I was quite shocked when I found out. I think to have one of our members of Congress shot shakes our country to the core. We pride ourselves and also rely on the fact that we are one of the most powerful countries in the world, if not the most powerful. That is largely in thanks to our strong commitment to democracy since the beginning of our nation. Then when someone kills someone because they may not agree with them, it's just awful! Democracy is a government of the people, for the people, and by the people, and it's vital that we are able to discuss issues and differences with respect and civility. It's the horrific countries that have had or currently have dictators that shooting like this are thought to occur because it's the only way to get a point across or silence opposition. But we as the United States of America are NOT that way! The man who shot him was crazy, in my opinion. Sure, he may not agree politically with Gillford, but to resort to attempted murder is no way to push your agenda! I think as punishment he should be put in prison for life with no parol. Not only did he almost kill her, and maybe still will as we don't know yet if she's ok or not, but he also damaged how democracy in this country works. I can only hope the Gillford will be ok and that she can continue doing her work. She seems to me to a be a very kind and open-minded person who has and hopefully will continue to do a lot of good for our country.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40978517/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/
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