US senator Gabrielle Giffords shot in arizona shooting - six others killed.

[sledgemeister]

Hang on to your hats guys looks like its gonna be a bumpy ride.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/08/gabrielle-giffords-shot-c_n_806211.html
Gabrielle Giffords Shot: Congresswoman Shot In Arizona

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head Saturday and an unknown number of others were wounded when an assailant opened fire in an area where the lawmaker was meeting with constituents, officials said.

There were varying accounts on Giffords' condition, but a hospital spokesman said the Democrat was in critical condition. An aide to the Democrat was killed. An unknown number of others was injured, officials officials said, including additional aides to the lawmaker.

Congressional officials said one of the victims died soon after the attack, and others were taken to a nearby hospital. The officials said the wounded included some of Gifford's aides who were with her at the time.

an interesting quote off the news paper page

Her father Spencer Giffords, 75, wept when asked if his 40-year-old daughter had any enemies.

"Yeah," he told The Post. "The whole tea party."

h ttp://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/ariz_congresswoman_shot_in_head_YFTvsurRHy5OWGSRKnuK8J#ixzz1ATapcbLU

Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was clinging to life after a gunman shot her in the head, after spraying a fusillade of bullets in front of an Arizona grocery store where she was holding a public event, authorities said.

The three-term Democrat, who might have been shot at point blank range, was undergoing surgery at the University Medical Center in Tuscon, Reuters reported.

Nine others injured in the bloody shooting spree, including a child, were also being treated there, according to reports.

Her father Spencer Giffords, 75, was rushing to the hospital when asked if his 40-year-old daughter had any enemies.

 

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., seen here with House Speaker John Boehner, was shot at a public event in Tucson, Ariz.
 
AP
Emergency personnel gather at the scene of the shooting.
"Yeah," he told The Post. "The whole tea party."

He added that politicians constantly faced danger.

"They always get threat[ened]," Giffords cried. "We don’t really have any information. The Police department was supposed to call us but they didn't."

The congresswoman was chatting up a couple during her first "Congress in Your Corner" event at the Tuscon Safeway when the maniacal gunman fired at the crowd, reports said.

Giffords excitedly promoted her event on Twitter.

"My 1st Congress on Your Corner starts now," she wrote. "Please stop by to let me know what is on your mind or tweet me later."

The gun-toting event crasher was tackled by a bystander and apprehended, reports said.

The 40-year-old representative, who held her seat since 2007, was married to U.S. astronaut Mark Kelly. She took strong positions on minimum wage, stem cell research and immigration – a Arizona flashpoint issue.

Edited heading to make correct:

[twyacht]

Federal District Judge John Roll dead also. I've also heard a talking head on Fox News say "machine guns are illegal" to get off this many shots...

Your right sledge... Based on her Father's comments, previous threats to her, it will be a bumpy ride indeed.

[WatchManUSA]

Fox just reported that a Federal Judge John Roll was killed at the rally, too.

[tombogan03884]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110108/ap_on_re_us/us_congresswoman_shot

By TERRY TANG and AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press Terry Tang And Amanda Lee Myers, Associated Press – 24 mins ago

0 TUCSON, Ariz. – Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head Saturday, an aide was killed, and an unknown number of others were wounded when an assailant opened fire outside a grocery store as the Democratic lawmaker met with constituents, officials said.

C.J. Karamargin, a spokesman for Giffords, said the congresswoman was in surgery as of 1 p.m. local time and that an unspecified number of Giffords staff members were injured in the shooting. Karamargin said he had no other information on the conditions of the injured or on the circumstances of the shooting.

Congressional officials said an aide to the Democrat was killed, and unknown number of others were injured, including staffers to the lawmaker.

President Barack Obama called the shooting "an unspeakable tragedy" and that such "a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society.

U.S. Capitol police say the shooter is in custody as one official said he carried out the attack with an automatic weapon. The officials who described the events did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not permitted to comment publicly.

[sledgemeister]

Interesting Tom, on msnbc (watching it now) they are saying a pistol with an extended mag?
I guess if its identified by a reporter it could be anything, no doubt it will be a evil black gun of some type, high powered of course.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110108/ap_on_re_us/us_congresswoman_shot

By TERRY TANG and AMANDA LEE MYERS, Associated Press Terry Tang And Amanda Lee Myers, Associated Press – 24 mins ago

0 TUCSON, Ariz. – Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head Saturday, an aide was killed, and an unknown number of others were wounded when an assailant opened fire outside a grocery store as the Democratic lawmaker met with constituents, officials said.

C.J. Karamargin, a spokesman for Giffords, said the congresswoman was in surgery as of 1 p.m. local time and that an unspecified number of Giffords staff members were injured in the shooting. Karamargin said he had no other information on the conditions of the injured or on the circumstances of the shooting.

Congressional officials said an aide to the Democrat was killed, and unknown number of others were injured, including staffers to the lawmaker.

President Barack Obama called the shooting "an unspeakable tragedy" and that such "a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society.

U.S. Capitol police say the shooter is in custody as one official said he carried out the attack with an automatic weapon. The officials who described the events did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not permitted to comment publicly.

This is the part of the story and others like this that make my blood boil.  In the first reports up here it went on to include that the FBI was investigating and forbade disclosure.  Having been responsible for safety and accident investigation situation at a prior firm I understand the issues that arise when information is released, especially in the course of an interview, and how it can undermine a fair and complete investigation.  However, we have become a society of "self important expert idiots" that everyone is trying to get the attention of the media hoping that some day we will cash in on it 

More than once I have written posts and letters stating that if a person did not have permission to speak or had been forbidden to speak the source should not be a part of the initial reports.  Down the road in the possibility of a cover up or other illegal activity is another story where the media is acting as "muck rakers" as was intended in the First Amendment.  But, in an initial report like this it is wrong!

[philw]

I have heard about this on the radio a couple of times

and the first report said that she was killed

however they later said she in surgry  however there are un official reports that she has passed away 

no matter what  I fear the fall out of this for you guys  no matter the reasons and what happened 

US congresswoman shot in street
Nine others injured by gunman
News updates to come
A US congresswoman was shot along with nine other people at a political event in Tucson, Arizona, media reports say.
Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat, was shot outside a grocery store, ABC News reported. Nine others have reportedly been injured, including three of her staff members.
Initial reports said Ms Giffords had been killed, but the latest word from spokeswoman Darci Slaten is: "Miss Giffords is alive. She is currently in surgery."
Earlier, The Huffington Post reported a spokesman for the Pima County sheriff said she was "shot point blank in the head".
Andrea Gooden, a witness who was in an office across the street, told Fox News she heard a burst of gunshots and "immediately after that there were people racing across the parking lot".

Another witness told CNN he heard 15-20 shots and saw people running from the scene and screaming before police and firetrucks arrived around two minutes later.
National Public Radio reports a bystander tackled the alleged gunman, who is now in police custody.
Gabrielle Giffords had been hosting her first Congress on Your Corner event, in which constituents are invited to stop by and talk to their representative.
Ms Giffords, 40, was first elected to Congress in 2006 and is married to Mark Kelly, a NASA astronaut.
http://www.news.com.au/world/us-congresswoman-gabrielle-giffords-and-six-others-shot-dead/story-e6frfkyi-1225984408228#ixzz1ATxHSVWY

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/09/3109039.htm
A US congresswoman is among at least nine people who have been shot by a lone gunman at a public event in Tucson, Arizona.

Democrat Gabrielle Giffords was holding a public meeting at a grocery store in her home state of Arizona when a man emerged from the crowd and shot her in the head at what has been described as point-blank range.

The congresswoman's condition is understood to be so serious that she was initially thought to be dead.

But the local hospital has since said she is in surgery.

"[Ms Giffords] is currently in surgery. She's alive. Her condition is critical at this time," University Medical Centre spokeswoman Darci Slaten said.

The hospital spokeswoman says that at least eight other people were also wounded.

Witnesses said multiple shots rang out and the shooter tried to flee before reportedly being tackled to the ground by bystanders.

It was not known what the motive for the shootings was.

US president Barack Obama has condemned the shooting as an "unspeakable tragedy" and "senseless" act of violence.

"This morning, in an unspeakable tragedy, a number of Americans were shot in Tucson, Arizona, at a constituent meeting with congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords," Mr Obama said.

"And while we are continuing to receive information, we know that some have passed away, and that Representative Giffords is gravely wounded.

"We do not yet have all the answers. What we do know is that such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society.

"I ask all Americans to join me and Michelle in keeping Representative Giffords, the victims of this tragedy, and their families in our prayers."

Ms Giffords has held several similar events since she first took office in 2007.

At one event in 2009, a protester was removed by police when his pistol fell on the supermarket floor.

Ms Giffords was one of the politicians featured on Sarah Palin's 'crosshairs map' of Democrats who voted for Mr Obama's healthcare reforms.

Ms Palin has since released a statement on Facebook offering her condolences to the victims of the shooting.

"My sincere condolences are offered to the family of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of today's tragic shooting in Arizona," she wrote.

"On behalf of Todd and my family, we all pray for the victims and their families, and for peace and justice."

Concealed weapons can be carried without a permit under Arizona law.

Last year, her office was vandalised just a few hours after the House voted to introduce the new health reform bill.

Re-elected in the November 2 election, Ms Giffords has focused on immigration reform, military issues, stem cell research and alternative energy while serving in Congress.

She is married to US astronaut Mark Kelly.

- ABC/Reuters

[tombogan03884]

This is the part of the story and others like this that make my blood boil.  In the first reports up here it went on to include that the FBI was investigating and forbade disclosure.  Having been responsible for safety and accident investigation situation at a prior firm I understand the issues that arise when information is released, especially in the course of an interview, and how it can undermine a fair and complete investigation.  However, we have become a society of "self important expert idiots" that everyone is trying to get the attention of the media hoping that some day we will cash in on it  

More than once I have written posts and letters stating that if a person did not have permission to speak or had been forbidden to speak the source should not be a part of the initial reports.  Down the road in the possibility of a cover up or other illegal activity is another story where the media is acting as "muck rakers" as was intended in the First Amendment.  But, in an initial report like this it is wrong!

M58, you missed the best part.
The story is out of Tuscon Az. but the "automatic weapon comment came from  "U.S. Capitol police" (recheck that last line you highlighted ) That's from Washington.
Local cops are not even sure how many people were hit yet, but 2,000 miles away the Capital police know all about it ?
Dumb asses.
I'll laugh my ass off if it turns out the shooter was an illegal alien.

[philw]

look for the Media pointing the finger at Palin. 

from the ABC Aust article

Ms Giffords was one of the politicians featured on Sarah Palin's 'crosshairs map' of Democrats who voted for Mr Obama's healthcare reforms.

[sledgemeister]

M58, you missed the best part.
The story is out of Tuscon Az. but the "automatic weapon comment came from  "U.S. Capitol police" (recheck that last line you highlighted ) That's from Washington.
Local cops are not even sure how many people were hit yet, but 2,000 miles away the Capital police know all about it ?
Dumb asses.
I'll laugh my ass off if it turns out the shooter was an illegal alien.

Been reading through the comments on Sarah Palins facebook page and some are blaming her for it (as tom says - dumb asses).
Some are saying they know who it was and it was a obama supporter?
So much speculation wit out evidence, a media/democrat field day