They didn’t.
Some asshole on my facebook page keeps trying to make it sound like an immigrant or a liberal did this. His latest post:
Is it even true that she used to be a Republican?
Not that any explanation is required at this point.
at the press conference the sheriff said there was no exchange of gunfire.
Whatever this thread might be, it is not a debate. I’m going to try for MPSIMS, first.
[ /Modding ]
I read that she was, although I’ve read so many articles now that I don’t remember which one it was. I had the idea that it was before she ever held elected office, though.
it seems that the 2 people that tackled the shooter did save lives. the shooter did not use up all the bullets in the gun.
i would imagine there is quite a bit of cc cameras in and around a shopping centre that will shed quite a bit of light on the shootings.
This would explain the simultaneous reports that they had the gunman in custody and they were still looking for a suspect, but it makes me wonder why none of the eyewitnesses mentioned a second gunman (though I’m fully aware that this could easily happen, it’s just something interesting to think about).
Giffords is Arizona’s first Jewish representative.
So the press conference recap is: 19 victims, 5 died at scene, the 9 year old girl died at the hospital, Giffords is still critical, there’s a suspicious package at Giffords’ office that’s going to be detonated by the bomb squad, and there’s another person of interest whose name is unknown but they have his picture.
ETA: Very good point, Sampiro.
Glad to hear that, though the videos do indicate a real familiarity with military testing and procedure. Folks with that level of knowledge about the military probably don’t have any trouble getting a common handgun in the United States. There’s not even a permit required to purchase a pistol in Arizona.
The New York Times has an update that as of 8:25 Eastern, the police are looking for a second suspect. Based on the last couple of posts here, I am not sure if that’s already out of date. Or maybe it could refer to someone who helped Loughner get the gun.
While I’d agree we are divided and there are a whole lot of people spewing hate from all sides, I’m kinda optimistic about it. In the past, division among Americans lead to a civil war. Later it lead to race riots and people actively attempting to incite a race war. These days it is, largely, people calling each other nazis. While it’s still bad, it is an improvement of sorts.
Or to put it another way, John Wilkes Booth was widely viewed as a hero in the South. Almost no one will view the asshole who shot Giffords as a hero.
If one is counting former congress people, the previous one shot and killed was Allard Kenneth Lowenstein, (January 16, 1929 – March 14, 1980), a liberal one term congressman from Long Island, NY. Killed by a “criminally insane” [trial result] liberal.
So, he might be a Christian, or not, conservative, or not, but, as with John Hinckley, Jr., his conduct can be adequately explained by things having nothing to do with his religion or his politics, and probably more interesting than either.
All, of course, subject to revision as the story develops.
cnn is reporting that congress is suspending pending legislation including the repeal healthcare vote. they are encouraging members of congress to tell local law enforcement about any events they are having or attending.
it seems they will be dealing with the issues from the shooting and what to do about safety of members of congress for this week.
You’ll find almost anyone who says that will “accept” it if payment is offered in no other form, and spend it, too. I doubt he paid for his guns in gold.
Huh. Really. Seems like the person in question is all over the place over whatever, whoever says that the system/establishment is oppressive or illegitimate – like he’s into overthrowing for overthrow’s own sake.
The House has apparently decreed a legislative recess for the week. I’d worry if this incident would lead to calls for tighter security of elected officials in public - we cocoon the President because there is only one at a time and there’s a history of them making big fat targets, but legislators (federal or state) should be able to walk freely among their constituents. Putting them in a bubble would only breed even more resentment that “they’re not really representing us”.
It would be remarkably strange for a psychotic like this to have an accomplice.
Best I could tell, he thinks he knows what’s really going on and other people just can’t see it. “Wake up people!” is mostly used as a parody these days but it’s a reminder that people who use that kind of phrasing seriously really are nuts a lot of the time. He has that scary ‘I’ve figured everything out!’ tone there. People with mental illnesses can definitely sound that way.