# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/81 "2011-01-08T20:44:01Z")
CNN reporting 18 shot, 6 dead, Giffords still in surgery, suspect in custody. I say again it is too soon to blame anybody for this horrific incident. We do not know what motivated the shooter. ---
**Author:** ![kjckjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@kjckjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjckjc)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/82 "2011-01-08T20:46:12Z")
The local news station is called KGUN? Really? That is unfortunate. ---
**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 8, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/83 "2011-01-08T20:46:55Z")
FBI reports the shooter is only 21. ---
**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 8, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/84 "2011-01-08T20:47:05Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > CNN reporting 18 shot, 6 dead, Giffords still in surgery, suspect in custody. > > I say again it is too soon to blame anybody for this horrific incident. We do not know what motivated the shooter. I can make a good guess. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/85 "2011-01-08T20:47:45Z")
Since the shooter was captured alive, we’ll find out soon. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/86 "2011-01-08T20:47:56Z")
The fact this hasn’t happened on American soil in centuries would indicate that whatever the shooter’s affiliations he wasn’t typical and he was homicidally deranged. > [@Marley23](#): > > Since the shooter was captured alive, we’ll find out soon. We will know more about him than we know about our neighbors before dark and non-stop for the next 7 days. Og but I hope it wasn’t a gay kid who was bullied in school or we’re going to see Anderson Cooper and numerous other media personalities masturbating on air. too soon? ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/87 "2011-01-08T20:48:49Z")
KOLD-TV is reporting that the shooter is 21 or 22, and that he is talking to law enforcement. They also reported that there are apparently no other shooters. Five people are confirmed dead. ---
**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 8, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/88 "2011-01-08T20:49:33Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > According to [this](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/01/08/2011-01-08_us_congresswoman_gabrielle_giffords_shot_in_arizona_multiple_wounded.html) page, > > He was also young: > > Most gun-rights activists are over 30. > > I’m thinking an immigration rights activist. Perhaps even an illegal alien. Reports are that he was white. His age doesn’t mean jack shit. Her office got shot at and vandalized after she voted for health care. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/89 "2011-01-08T20:49:44Z")
ET Change: After I originally posted this, I realized it’s unfair to single out **Der Trihs** ’s post; he wasn’t the only one. Quoting of his post removed. Extremists on either side of the debate can find their polar opposites that would appear to prove the truth of such statements. However it’s unfair to characterize the whole side that way. Please dial it back a bit. Obiously this is a horrifying event, but let’s all try to avoid pointing fingers at each other. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/90 "2011-01-08T20:50:15Z")
MSNBC is reporting that doctors expect her to pull through. Apparently one of the people shot was a child. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/91 "2011-01-08T20:50:22Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I can make a good guess. “It is a capital mistake to theorize without data,” as a dead Englishman once wrote. If there is a reasonable way to gather informaiton that will lead you to a correct conclusion, you should wait until the information has been gathered before forming any opinions. To do otherwise not only courts confirmation bias, but also, in emotionally charged circumstances, leads to escalating passions. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/92 "2011-01-08T20:50:58Z")
The station I’m watching has the unfortunate call letters of KGUN. I’ll bet they wish they didn’t at this moment. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/93 "2011-01-08T20:51:03Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I can make a good guess. So can I, but I keep it to myself because it’s a _guess_ and the _truth_ is SUPER FUCKING IMMINENT. > [@Sampiro](#): > > The station I’m watching has the unfortunate call letters of KGUN. I’ll bet they wish they didn’t at this moment. Ah haha ---
**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 8, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/94 "2011-01-08T20:52:45Z")
> [@kjckjc](#): > > The local news station is called KGUN? Really? That is unfortunate. i know! cnn is using their feed, i couldn’t belive the call letters on that station. msnbc is using kvoa and the police press conference is going on now. ---
**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 8, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/95 "2011-01-08T20:53:58Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > “It is a capital mistake to theorize without data,” as a dead Englishman once wrote. I have data. The victim is a Democrat. She’s been targeted by right wing violence before, and liberals don’t do shit like this. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/96 "2011-01-08T20:55:04Z")
His name is Jared Laughner. ---
**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 8, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/97 "2011-01-08T20:55:20Z")
Jared Lochner is the name of the shooter ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/98 "2011-01-08T20:56:38Z")
MSNBC says he’s a US citizen. ---
**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 8, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/99 "2011-01-08T20:57:28Z")
laughner, born in sept. of 1988. they said there will be a later 6pm arizona time press conference with more info. ---
**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 8, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904/100 "2011-01-08T20:59:22Z")
They say he has a criminal record. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-shot-in-the-head/566904.md?page=6)