Was 2nd amendment rhetoric the birthing grounds of our most recent gun tragedy?

Firstly, I am new to the SDMB and am not sure if this is the correct arena for my question, but it seemed the most fitting.

In light of the Arizona shootings, which the suspect admitted was meant to target U.S. Rep Gabrielle Giffords, should the politicians who promoted the idea of 2nd admendment remedies and violence against government be called to task?
I am a relative newcomer to the world of politics, never gave it much thought until mid 2006 when I saw a televised speech of Barack Obama’s that made the hair on my arms stand up and tears come to my eyes. However, in the lead up to the 2008 elections, I do not recall vitriolic rhetoric that espoused violence against government if one does not agree with political positions of their elected officials. This seems to be a new, and horrifying, twist to the already heated, mud-slinging, name calling, one-upmanship contest that currently serves as our political arena. One who aspires to achieve office should, ideally, have the best interests of this country at heart. Promoting violence, encouraging people to take up arms against their government, and otherwise inciting riot CANNOT be good for this country and those that insist upon this course of action should be held to account when their seeds bear fruit.

Hi, Kharmic Mishaps, and welcome to the Straight Dope.

The best place for this sort of discussion would likely be Great Debates. Similar threads are in progress there, so jump in whenever you’re ready.

There are other threads on this.

In the second link, I made an offhand comment, meant only to be a jab, that the remedies have started. Of course I was jumped on. In the Pit thread I don’t think I argued that this particular case was prompted by the rhetoric, but I did think it was a strong possibility. Later evidence suggests that the shooter is just a nutjob, and that the rhetoric is not related to this attack.

To answer the OP: No.

Cite?

Welcome to the SDMB, Kharmic Mishaps.

The best place for a thread like this is our Great Debates forum. Since there are already a couple of discussions there, I’ll close this thread; please feel free to join one of those other conversations.

twickster, MPSIMS moderator