news alert: Congresswoman shot

[rm]

For those of you not watching TV or following along on Twitter:

There are conflicting reports regarding the condition of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she was apparently shot in the head at close range at a public event at a local grocery store (some sites have her as dead; some have her in surgery -- the news is highly chaotic right now).

At least 11 other people are also reported shot, and there are multiple fatalities being reported.

Gunman reported tackled and arrested.

No motive is currently known for the attack.

It is worth noting that Congresswoman Giffords' district was one in the crosshairs graphics on Sarah Palin's website. The site seemed to go down (whether from traffic load, to pull the graphic or other unrelated issue, I don't know) shortly after the news of the shooting broke.

Get thee to CNN.

ETA: I have to leave the house, so updates/corrections/clarifications to this post are not possible at present.

Comments

[freyas-fire.livejournal.com]

The only thing on Palin's FB page is a prompt for the newest episode of her show, posted about an hour ago. Same for Twitter, though posted a bit sooner.
A bunch of people are posting the crosshairs map so even if she pulls it from the site, it isn't going away anytime soon.

http://www.toomanymornings.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/palin-target-map.jpg

One of the more recent comments on CNN is saying at least 6 people have died, including one child. No update on whether Giffords has died or if she is in surgery.

Thoughts and prayers go out to the families affected by this....what an awful way to start the year.

[firefly124.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the heads-up. One of Patsfan's friends moved to Tuscon some time ago. Checking now to be sure he's all right. My heart goes out to the families of those who have been killed or injured even as I selfishly hope he wasn't one of them.

[malle-babbe.livejournal.com]

Well, I hope Sarah Palin / Roger Ailes / The Right Wing Scream Machine is happy.

[kshandra]

When John Lennon was murdered, people assumed it was for political reasons, because he was a political man. Turned out to be just a whackjob. Unless and until we have confirmation of the shooter's motives, pointing fingers does no good.

[sihaya09.livejournal.com]

Not specifically saying this WAS Tea Party motivated (though my personal opinion is that it's pretty damn likely)...

...when someone shoots a congresswoman at point blank range during a political event, that is a political murder. No way around that.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

What I hope is that someone involved sues the hell out of Palin and Fox News - White Aryan Resistance (exactly the sort of wackjob hate groups as it sounds) was pauperized in 1990 when a civil suit put them at fault for inciting some other wackjobs to kill a black man. Criminal charges would be difficult to make stick for Palin, but civil suits are easier and given the crosshairs and suchlike might well win. Until I hear differently, I'm assuming they're ultimately to blame for this attack.

[elusis.livejournal.com]

"She won her third term in a closely contested race against a Tea Party-sponsored candidate and was one of three Democratic legislators who reported vandalism at their offices following the March vote on health care reform." - CNN

[virginia-fell.livejournal.com]

Yep.

Look at the charming specimen she defeated, too.

http://firedoglake.com/2011/01/08/giffords-opponent-jesse-kelly-held-june-event-to-shoot-a-fully-automatic-m16-to-get-on-target-and-remove-gabrielle-giffords/

[canaana.livejournal.com]

This is the link to the article at the local paper, which has some more details.

It's worth noting that a federal judge was killed in the same shooting, and my family informs me that he was really one of the good guys, and his loss is really going to hurt in the federal system down there.

Still waiting to hear if all my friends are okay . . .

[dsmoen.livejournal.com]

Said judge ironically ruled that part of the Brady bill was unconstitutional, and he was assigned to the ethnic studies ban case.

[sethg]

Talking Points Memo has a number of short pieces up on this, including YouTube videos from the shooting suspect and her reaction, last year, to being put on Palin’s “crosshairs” list.

[freyas-fire.livejournal.com]

The news this morning stated that Giffords is still alive but in critical condition, but the outlook is good per the doctors. Her aide was one of the people killed, along with a 9 year old girl (that they mentioned was born on 9/11/2001) the federal judge, and several elderly people.

I can't even imagine what the families are going through. Politically motivated or not, people have died at the hands of a complete whackjob. It was cruel and heartless.