Democratic Representative Gabrielle Gifford of Arizona Is Shot During a Constituent Meeting

Arizona Representative Gabrielle Gifford shot along with eleven others during a small constituent meeting at a grocery store.

CNN reports she is currently in surgery. The condition of the eleven others is not known, though it is reported that a Congressional staffer has been killed.

Representative Gifford was among three Democratic Congresspeople whose offices were vandalized during health care reform and won her race against a member of the Tea Party earlier this year.

In the rocky course of civilization, repetition is key; by now, I think we kind of know what happens when assassination becomes a tool of politics. Saying it does not end well understates the case to the point of ridicule; it doesn't end.

My thoughts are with her family and friends.

Update, 2:35 PM

According to CNN, among the victims was a child. The suspect is in custody.

Update, 2:51 PM

CNN Blog

The total number of victims has been raised to eighteen; of that number, it is reported that six have died. The world is infinitely less in their passing. I hope they weren't afraid.

Representative Gifford remains in surgery. According to reports attributed ot Fox News, Gifford is responding to commands after surgery, but I can't get a direct attribution. Piers Morgan's Twitter contains a quote.

Update, 3:05 PM CST

Okay, missed this earlier; a Federal Judge is among the victims, status unknown.

Update, 3:14 PM CST

CNN Blog reports seven minutes ago to confirm one of the deceased victims was a child.

Representative Gifford is under anesthesia and out of surgery after taking a single gunshot wound to the head. She is in critical condition, but Dr. Peter Rhee, Trauma Director of the University Medical Center at Tucson, reports he is optimistic for her recovery.

CNN needs to load the press conference already. Thanks to mardia for commenting on what was happening.

Update, 3:22 PM CST

KOLD has identified the man taken into custody.

KOVA is reporting that U.S. District Judge John Roll was among the murdered victims.

Update, 3:47 PM CST

From President Obama, live press conference occuring now:

US District Judge John Roll is confirmed dead.

A child is confirmed dead; the child was nine.

President Obama confirms five dead.

The suspect has been taken into custody.

Representative Gabrielle Gifford has come out of surgery.

President Obama has offered the assistance of the federal government and an investigation is underway.

Ah, the Governor of Arizona is about to speak.

Update, 3:59 PM CST

Governor Brewer is visibly shaken and talks about Representative Gabrielle Gifford's record and her accomplishments. All was prefaced they have no new information at this time.

Comments

[scy]

*shakes head*

This is both sad and terrifying.

[seperis]

Yes, this.

[silverflight8]

oh my God WHAT. What. D:

[seperis]

That was my reaction entirely. Still is.

[monanotlisa]

Jesus Christ. The hell?

[seperis]

I'm still not quite getting over the concept. It's just unreal.

[lferion]

I worked at that Safeway. I got to meet Rep Giffords at a Bookmans right before the holidays. I've got a pile of candles lit. She's one of the good ones. I am completely appalled. Just. There are no words for how *wrong* this is.

[seperis]

Yes, this. All of this.

[hollyberries]

So someone, for what may be political reasons, fired into a crowd of people (that included a child)?

I'm sorry, I just can't process it.

[seperis]

Into a small constituent's meeting, even.

[amara1783]

I just... what? How is this...? *hides*

I'm scared and confused and deeply deeply saddened. I too hope they weren't afraid.

[less_star]

That's dreadful!! The poor kid!

[minim_calibre]

I have no words. It's just so, so awful.

[ilyena_sylph]

Do you mind if I link to this?

I just... I'm too tired and too scared and too pissed to do a post of my own, but I want to say something and yours is the best I've seen on my Circle -- I'll understand if you say no, and just, like, link to a news feed or something...

[seperis]

No problem at all!

I was pretty much blank through most of this today.

[gozer]

Jesus, thank you for posting this. WTF -- it's always the good ones.

[green_grrl]

I've been updating news blogs and crying all day. She's not my Representative—she's the Representative from the neighboring district—but she's a lovely woman and has done a lot of good things for Southern Arizona. The fact that she's a Democrat who has been elected three times in a majority Republican district tells you a lot about her level-headed and non-partisan approach. The voters in her area are centrist, and have rejected her more right-wing (this last time Tea Party) opponents every time. The rhetoric got really, really ugly during Health Care Reform.

When I first heard this morning, she was reported dead, so I am very thankful that it now looks optimistic. I am horrified for those who were killed (a child!). It's an awful, ugly thing, and very shocking.

[aivilo_18]

Wow.

Palin endorsed Jesse Kelly, who ran against Giffords, who used the tagline:

"Get on Target for Victory in November. Help remove Gabrielle Giffords
from office. Shoot a fully automatic M16 with Jesse Kelly."

I'm actually literally sick to my stomach.

When your native tongue is Violence and this is the shit that you use your position of power to spew and you have people listening to you who think you're in the right and have a legitimate point instead of fucking out of your head stupid, you're at the very fucking *least* an accessory when shit like this goes down.

The families of the victims here deserve no less than the Tea Party's head on a silver fucking platter for this.

[mardia.livejournal.com]

I'm watching CNN in shock right now, this is insane. CNN is also reporting that a child was injured as well in the shooting.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have MSNBC live on right now trying to conceptualize this. What the hell just happened? And a kid?

[aivilo-18.livejournal.com]

This is nauseating.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*curls up with you for a while*

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

This just breaks my heart.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It's pretty much that exactly.

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

This is horrible.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*nods* God yes.

[cathalin.livejournal.com]

I just saw this :(

[seperis.livejournal.com]

This isn't what you expect on a lazy Saturday.

[ionaonie.livejournal.com]

I just. This is terrible and my thoughts are with her, her family and everyone else who has been hurt or killed.

God, but I hope this isn't politically motivated. But I think it might be in vain.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I'm really hoping for a random crazy. Like, a real random crazy, not a political random crazy.

[an-kayoh.livejournal.com]

I'm stunned - I'm also less than 10 miles away - I can't believe this is happening here. When was the last time a congressperson was shot at? When was the last time it was a woman? Unbelievable.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I"m not even shocked; there's a wiki page for this: United States Congressmen Wounded or Killed in the Line of Duty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congressmen_wounded_or_killed_in_the_line_of_duty). She's the first Congressperson to be the victim of what could be a political assassination, though. The only death was cult related in Guyana before the events of the Jonestown Massacre.

[angels3.livejournal.com]

I don't care if you Republican or Democrat stupid people are just stupid!!!!

Hopefully he'll get the death penelty. Yes I do support it :)

[cathalin.livejournal.com]

Wait, is this real? Sarah Palin putting out a map with gun sights on it including her???!!! http://www.alan.com/2010/03/24/palin-puts-gun-sighs-on-target-map-says-ti/

so much horribleness omg

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Yep. Very real. I remember when that first came out.

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

What a horrible event.

That's about all I can put words together to say.

[mylittlehottie.livejournal.com]

I know its possible that this is just a random act of craziness, but considering the last elections were filled with talk of " second amendment actions" to taking back the government, its just so sickening and disheartening that this could be a response to that kind of talk....

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Though his youtube is...I don't even know..

[attempt-unique.livejournal.com]

I am following this with a look of horror. The shooter's youtube page (http://www.youtube.com/user/Classitup10). there are also screengrabs from his (now scrubbed) myspace floating on twitter.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

..is that for real? *BLANK*

[cat-77.livejournal.com]

This is so insane. As my partner said, this person is likely as good as dead now, but does that really help any of the victims and does that bring a child back to life?

So hoping the people I work with (remotely) is AZ are okay. I must admit that I freaked when I read about the judge as I work with the judges and attorneys on a near daily basis. Feel the need to check in with my ex who lives/works there as well...

[seperis.livejournal.com]

Pretty much this. *sends hugs* Hope everyone is okay.