# 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:** 17
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/321 "2011-01-10T22:07:24Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I would think that Loughner would be a very high risk of suicide. Does anybody know what precautions other than the obvious (no shoelaces, no sharp objects, nothing that can be used to hang yourself) prisons take to prevent a suicide? Would he likely be handcuffed or anything like? I imagine they’ll take out the toilet seat so he can’t hit himself over the head and drown. sorry ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/322 "2011-01-10T22:08:27Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Hmm. Paltrow is pretty close- a first cousin once removed. I wonder if they knew each other. It would be extra bizarre if he did this to impress her. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/323 "2011-01-10T22:20:17Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I imagine they’ll take out the toilet seat so he can’t hit himself over the head and drown. Not to mention removing all the toilet paper so he couldn’t bend back the bars, roll the toilet paper out the window, slide down the toilet paper and make an escape. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/324 "2011-01-10T22:51:45Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > It would be extra bizarre if he did this to impress her. Not if he saw her on GLEE. She rocked. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/325 "2011-01-10T23:15:15Z")
His mugshot has been released, with him smiling at the camera. [http://www.businessinsider.com/jared-loughners-mug-shot-2011-1](http://www.businessinsider.com/jared-loughners-mug-shot-2011-1) I think it’s safe to say he’s crazy as shit. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/326 "2011-01-10T23:22:50Z")
Freaky. Very egg shaped head. I wonder if he was going for a [Travis Bickle look](http://www.pollsb.com/photos/o/9877-travis_bickle_taxi_driver.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/327 "2011-01-11T07:10:10Z")
He’s earned a place in the craziest mug shot ever discussion, that’s for sure. My girlfriend said that picture’s going to give her nightmares. And yes, the shaved head does give him a Travis Bickle quality. Not to say Uncle Fester. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/328 "2011-01-11T12:57:42Z")
There’s nothing wrong with his mug shot that a few bruises wouldn’t cure. Sorry, this is one of those guys who makes me struggle between my conviction that torture is wrong and my occasional desire to see severe corporal punishment such as ‘kissing the gunner’s daughter’ brought back. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/329 "2011-01-11T14:35:56Z")
Looks like a Conehead whose cone has deflated. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/330 "2011-01-11T20:45:18Z")
Obligatory [Daily Show Link](http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-january-10-2011/arizona-shootings-reaction). Stewart says it well and, coincidentally, shares my opinion (i.e. Right Wing rhetoric and crosshairs are despicable but you can’t draw a straight line twixt them and the actions of a deranged gunman). ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/331 "2011-01-11T21:56:08Z")
For the Canucks following this thread - [Daily Show Link](http://watch.thecomedynetwork.ca/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart/full-episodes/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart---january-10-2011/#clip399095) for Canada. “It would be really nice if the ramblings of crazy people didn’t in any way resemble how we actually talk to each other on TV.” Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/332 "2011-01-11T22:20:50Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > His mugshot has been released, with him smiling at the camera. > > [http://www.businessinsider.com/jared-loughners-mug-shot-2011-1](http://www.businessinsider.com/jared-loughners-mug-shot-2011-1) > > I think it’s safe to say he’s crazy as shit. He’s like a poster child for violent lunacy! ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/333 "2011-01-12T04:15:24Z")
What confuses me is that the artist’s sketch of him being arraigned that accompanied this story on Google news showed him with a full head of hair. I’m curious why they would decide to shave his head 24 hours after taking him into custody and also making him appear much different than he appeared when he committed the crime. It makes it hard for a witness to say he was the man they saw. It may be relevant what he was doing ten minutes before the shootings. The other possibility is that Google put up a random picture alongside the story. I’ve seen that before. My system security and intolerance of animated ads prevents me from seeing a lot of graphics so I may have missed a different sketch of him at the arraignment. I must admit that he looks completely insane in that photo. I’d guess that was the eefect he was going for, though he may not have had to try very hard. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/334 "2011-01-12T04:23:08Z")
A disguise maybe, so one takes a potshot at him? An arraignment is different than a trial, I don’t know if witnesses are even called. Besides, if it’s a wig they could take it off once he’s safely in the courtroom or holding cell. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/335 "2011-01-12T04:57:30Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > I’m curious why they would decide to shave his head 24 hours after taking him into custody and also making him appear much different than he appeared when he committed the crime. Do we have any confirmation that the authorities did, in fact, shave his head? Or did he shave his own head before the attack? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/336 "2011-01-12T05:03:36Z")
BBC mentioned his head “was shaved for his court appearance.” They made it sound like the authorities did it. I know back in the day in Texas, any longhairs that got picked up for any reason got a head shave. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/337 "2011-01-12T05:18:26Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I know back in the day in Texas, any longhairs that got picked up for any reason got a head shave. His recent photos show him with a short haircut, military style. And I still think [Michael Jackson’s](http://news.findlaw.com/cnn/docs/jacko/mjsb112003booking.html) mugshot is creepier, though not by much. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/338 "2011-01-12T05:33:51Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > BBC mentioned his head “was shaved for his court appearance.” They made it sound like the authorities did it. > > I know back in the day in Texas, any longhairs that got picked up for any reason got a head shave. I’ve been under the impression that these days suspects don’t get their hair chopped off until after they’ve been convicted. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/339 "2011-01-12T06:09:57Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > BBC mentioned his head “was shaved for his court appearance.” They made it sound like the authorities did it. > > I know back in the day in Texas, any longhairs that got picked up for any reason got a head shave. Odd that they’d do that before even a mug shot. Police lore (via countless TV shows I’ve seen) is that the very first thing they do with arrestees is take fingerprints and a mug shot. How true this is I couldn’t say. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/340 "2011-01-12T06:15:22Z")
That’s how they used to do it whenever I got arrested, but that’s just personal experience. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904.md?page=18)