Saturday, January 08, 2011

Congresswoman Giffords Shot

Anyone paying the slightest attention to the news now knows that a gunman opened fire at a northwest Tucson Safeway this morning where Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was holding a public event. The latest word is that the gunman fired many shots rapidly and has wounded at least five and perhaps as many as twelve people. Most disturbingly, I heard via phone call that Giffords was shot in the head. I don't have any confirmation of this.

The news is still saying nothing about her condition or the nature of her injuries, but it is confirming that Giffords has been flown to University Medical Center via medivac, which is not a good sign.

Okay - the news has just confirmed that she was shot in the head.

May folks say a prayer in support of this well meaning and dedicated public servant.

Update: NPR is now reporting that Gabrielle Giffords has died, but Sheriff Clarence Dupnik is saying that she is still alive. Pray hard.

Update (2:25 PM Tucson time): Gabrielle is clearly alive, now out of surgery but in critical condition. The surgeon expressed "optimism" that she will live. Word is that a federal judge and five others are dead, including someone on her staff.

Update (2:35 PM): The shooter has been identified as Jared Loughner, a 22 year old Caucasian, and that Giffords is responding to doctors and expected to live.

8 Comments:

Blogger Nobody said...

Many prayers. The reports are all conflicting, so it's hard to tell at the moment what's really going on. But Gabby was a childhood classmate and is one of Tucson's (and the U.S. Congress's) real gems. I consider her a friend.

1/08/2011 12:14 PM  
Blogger Liza said...

Both CBS and MSNBC have now reported that Gabrielle was shot in the head. The gunman went straight up to her and shot her at point blank range.

Somewhere around 12 people have been shot.

What has this state become? Can anything be done about all this hatred?

God help us.

1/08/2011 12:23 PM  
Blogger Liza said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

1/08/2011 12:38 PM  
Blogger Liza said...

Local news, channel 4, is reporting that Gabrielle is in surgery at the Tucson Medical Center.

1/08/2011 12:58 PM  
Blogger The Navigator said...

Using the intentionally inflammatory rhetoric of gun violence, Palin advises followers, "Don't retreat. Reload!"

She uses cross hair imagery on political opponents. This is actually happening. I think we've passed the point of no return to where real bullets are going to enter the picture.


x4mr blog post March 25, 2010

reacting to the Sarah Palin unconscionable publication of a map showing rifle cross hairs on the districts of elected officials.

1/08/2011 5:33 PM  
Anonymous Mariana said...

More examples of inflammatory rhetoric

http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2011/01/violence-laced-political-rhetoric.html

1/09/2011 1:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Transported by ambulance, not air.
Many, many, many mistakes in the ongoing reporting of this story.
Such as Liza saying it was Tucson Medical Center, which CLOSED its Level 1 trauma center some years ago.

Glad this blog noted the Sarah Palin crap early on.

1/17/2011 7:21 PM  
Blogger x4mr said...

Anon(7:21 PM),
Other than new arrivals from a search, few will see your comment here. Liza was just quoting what she had heard. I heard it was UMC from the beginning.

The news at the time was saying Giffords was airlifted. This may have been a security protocol of some kind, but I have no idea and no longer care.

This blog has been decrying the hateful rhetoric for over two years, in particular Sarah Palin.

1/17/2011 8:57 PM  

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