# Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot in the head? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904 "2011-01-08T18:36:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/261 "2011-01-09T10:31:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > BBC is saying something about someone “may have accompanied the gunman to the site.” Could be just some poor shlub who gave the jerk a ride to the grocery store without knowing what would happen. I’d disappear too! Or a family member. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/262 "2011-01-09T11:11:50Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Well, you know reliable early reports are, but I read somewhere earlier that Judge Roll had at the store doing some shopping and upon leaving came over to say hello to Rep. Giffords, so it doesn’t sound at this point like he was a scheduled attendee. Yeah, the judge was a friend of the Congresswoman and just dropped by to say “hi.” He was there entirely by coincidence. I doubt the shooter even recognized him. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/263 "2011-01-09T12:13:46Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > The Washington Post identified the dead child as Christina Taylor Green, born September 11, 2001. > > That’s a little freaky. A little more about Christina Green[here](http://www.csnphilly.com/01/09/11/Greens-granddaughter-killed-in-Arizona-s/landing.html?blockID=387830&feedID=693). Some sources are hyphenating her name (Christina-Taylor) and some aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/264 "2011-01-09T13:22:36Z")
her poor parents. i can’t imagine. she may have wanted to meet the congresswoman because of her student council win. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/265 "2011-01-09T13:47:08Z")
> **[Why is the year infinite in the date? , page 1](https://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread591108/pg1)** > > Why is the year infinite in the date? , page 1 This is almost certainly him. Erad3. Same arguments and style as his youtube rants. ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/266 "2011-01-09T14:34:52Z")
> [@Dr.Love](#): > > I don’t know if that’s what has him upset. E.g., > > ISTM that he is accusing the government of controlling people’s thoughts by controlling the engligh language, a la 1984. No, in one of the videos he specifically mentions the lack of “English grammar” of people in District 8. He refers to “English grammar” repeatedly throughout the videos, actually. He’s not just talking about language in general. It’s all totally nuts, but English was definitely a focus. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/267 "2011-01-09T14:46:05Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > There are plenty of “non-official” sources-private sale, black market, stolen, possibly gun show( may vary with local laws), borrowed, pawn shop. Thank you, **runner pat**. I had not thought of that last night, but it is obvious. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/268 "2011-01-09T14:53:00Z")
If anyone hasn’t read the NY Times article about Loughner, its here: [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us/politics/09shooter.html?pagewanted=1&\_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimesglobal](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/us/politics/09shooter.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimesglobal) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/269 "2011-01-09T15:41:25Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Those poor people–that little girl. So senseless and stupid. If this Jared is the perp and is so obviously mentally unstable–how did he acquire a gun? It is now been reported by the AP that Loughner legally purchased his gun at a local sporting goods store. [http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/national\_world&id=7887529](http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/national_world&id=7887529) ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/270 "2011-01-09T16:44:04Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > It is now been reported by the AP that Loughner legally purchased his gun at a local sporting goods store. > > [http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/national\_world&id=7887529](http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/national_world&id=7887529) No surprise there – anyone can legally purchase a firearm if they have no black marks on their record. AFAICT, Jared Lee had no felony convictions and (presumably) no history of psychiatric treatment – hence, the Second Amendment applies. (Especially in Arizona.) Nobody could have predicted or prevented this Black Swan Event. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/271 "2011-01-09T16:46:44Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > No surprise there – anyone can legally purchase a firearm if they have no black marks on their record. AFAICT, Jared Lee had no felony convictions and (presumably) no history of psychiatric treatment – hence, the Second Amendment applies. (Especially in Arizona.) > > Nobody could have predicted or prevented this Black Swan Event. ☹ The NYT article says he has a criminal record and that his school wanted him to have a mental evaluation. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/272 "2011-01-09T17:02:51Z")
> [@fuzzypickles](#): > > No surprise there – anyone can legally purchase a firearm if they have no black marks on their record. AFAICT, Jared Lee had no felony convictions and (presumably) no history of psychiatric treatment – hence, the Second Amendment applies. (Especially in Arizona.) Yep. Loughner was the proverbial “law-abiding citizen” whose claimed rights the Second Amendment, Second Half Only fundies want to protect. > [@RickJay](#): > > It would be remarkably strange for a psychotic like this to have an accomplice. Did you ever hear about the [DC Beltway snipers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltway_snipers)? ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/273 "2011-01-09T17:10:21Z")
For what it’s worth, the 50yo “person of interest” may be something the media’s playing up for entertainment’s sake, as per their nature. Naturally, the Feds want to locate this guy and determine how he’s connected to Jared Lee – but considering how _nearly all_ lone nutjobs act independently, it’s likely that Guy #2 is entirely unrelated to the event itself. (Kinda like “Man #2” from the OK City bombing – remember him?) Still…it bears investigation. Somebody _did_ shoot to kill a fucking U.S. Congresswoman, FFS!!! ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/274 "2011-01-09T17:11:21Z")
If you look at the main page of CNN right now, there is a picture of a woman and her daughter at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting. That is my daughter’s best friend and her mother. This has affected the whole Tucson community. ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/275 "2011-01-09T17:20:47Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > If you look at the main page of CNN right now, there is a picture of a woman and her daughter at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the shooting. That is my daughter’s best friend and her mother. > > This has affected the whole Tucson community. I’m very lucky in that I literally cannot imagine what this must be like for everyone out there right now. I am so sorry for what’s happened to your community. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/276 "2011-01-09T17:41:22Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > The NYT article says he has a criminal record and that his school wanted him to have a mental evaluation. But it seems from the various reports that he was never actually \*convicted of a felony \*(or other offense that would put a disqualifying mark on his record), nor actually _placed under treatment_. It would be interesting to see if this is confirmed one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/277 "2011-01-09T18:10:20Z")
Horrible, I have relatives who live not more than two blocks away from that store. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/278 "2011-01-09T18:22:58Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > This has affected the whole Tucson community. I have family connections in Phoenix. That’s as close as I wish to ever get. Last night, while taking my nightly walk around the block, I passed by a small boy standing on a motor scooter in a main driveway to my apartment complex. He appeared to be crying, and at first I didn’t understand why, or what he was doing there (aside from the obvious fact that standing in a dark driveway is _dangerous_, you stupid kid!) Eventually, I figured it out – he was crying because of yesterday’s event. Too young to comprehend what happened, except that all the grown-ups around him were extremely upset, and there’s scary stuff on TV where his favorite programs should be. At the moment, he seemed like an angel. Tears from Heaven = God’s Tears. I’m glad the boy was there to shed tears for all of us, especially myself – as of this weekend, I’m too fucking numb to feel anything but darkness. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/279 "2011-01-09T19:04:05Z")
[The 9 year old who died was born on September 11, 2001](http://www.nationalpost.com/news/Nine+year+shooting+victim+symbol+hope/4082537/story.html).:eek: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/280 "2011-01-09T19:31:07Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > BBC is saying something about someone “may have accompanied the gunman to the site.” Could be just some poor shlub who gave the jerk a ride to the grocery store without knowing what would happen. I’d disappear too! Well he damn well needs to be talked to do a thorough investigation. The gunman was not the kind who was going to keep quiet on the way to a shooting with a gun and three magazines. At minimum he can say what he learned on the way there. This looks like the assassination of Bobby Kennedy to me: find a nut, wind him up and point him in a bad direction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904.md?page=15)