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

[billt]

They go on to talk of the Senator's strong support for the Second Amendment, and her speeches on the culture and history of Arizona.

It's all nothing more than total B.S. No one deserves to get shot for basically doing the job they were hired to do. With that said the woman was nothing more than a flip flopping, political hack. I put her into much the same class as Arlen Spector. When she was a "Republican" they couldn't trust her for her vote, much like Spector. When she became a "democrat", they felt much the same about her. She was, (is), all over the map politically, and likes to make noise. As a representative, she was, (is), about as dangerous as they come because of her unpredictability. "Pro gun", pro amnesty, pro border security, pro obamacare. Her political posturing on these issues is akin to fish in a blender. I'm sorry she got shot, but I'm glad as hell she's out of there! If you're going to be a Republican BE ONE! If you prefer the liberal point of view, then stand your ground. You can't be "a little bit pregnant."  Bill T.

[fightingquaker13]

It's all nothing more than total B.S. No one deserves to get shot for basically doing the job they were hired to do. With that said the woman was nothing more than a flip flopping, political hack. I put her into much the same class as Arlen Spector. When she was a "Republican" they couldn't trust her for her vote, much like Spector. When she became a "democrat", they felt much the same about her. She was, (is), all over the map politically, and likes to make noise. As a representative, she was, (is), about as dangerous as they come because of her unpredictability. "Pro gun", pro amnesty, pro border security, pro obamacare. Her political posturing on these issues is akin to fish in a blender. I'm sorry she got shot, but I'm glad as hell she's out of there! If you're going to be a Republican BE ONE! If you prefer the liberal point of view, then stand your ground. You can't be "a little bit pregnant."  Bill T.

Got to disagree here Bill. A lot of people can't have their beliefs covered by a tidy little label like liberal or conservative. Further they won't stay in a neatly wrapped box defined by political parties. These are people I respect, as opposed to those that seem to let others do their thinking for them and just vote the party line.
FQ13

[MikeBjerum]

FQ,

You miss the point Billt is making.  His short four item list shows two contradictions in stance:  Pro-secure border vs. Pro-amnesty and Pro-gun vs. Pro-Obamacare.  You can't vote for something one day and vote against it by supporting an opposite view the next.

[Ichiban]

At any rate, she is lucky (or not, depending on your point of view) he was using WWB FMJs.  

And, not to be too ghoulish, here is a interesting bit from CNN on the wound.
http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/10/gupta-how-giffords-survived-bullet-to-the-brain/?hpt=T2

[fightingquaker13]

FQ,

You miss the point Billt is making.  His short four item list shows two contradictions in stance:  Pro-secure border vs. Pro-amnesty and Pro-gun vs. Pro-Obamacare.  You can't vote for something one day and vote against it by supporting an opposite view the next.

Those stances aren't contradictory. You can be in favor of a tight border, but amnesty those already here, hell Reagan did it. I dont agree, but there is no real contradiction. Likewise supporting nationalized health care and being pro-gun do not contradict one another. If they use health care to regulate guns? Well that is an issue one can oppose while still promoting the idea of government care. Again, I disagree with her position, but its a legitimate one.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[billt]

You can be in favor of a tight border, but amnesty those already here. FQ13

She is no more in favor of a tight border, than she is for the Second Amendment. In order to support Obamacare you have to support Socialism. There is no right to bear arms in a socialist government. If that isn't contradictory I don't know what is. This woman postures her every position, and tries to play both sides of the fence in the process. She only won by 4,000 votes in a district that is quite large. She did it by trying to appease everyone. Most with common sense didn't buy into her rhetoric. But enough did, just barely. She tells the people what she thinks they want to hear. I wouldn't trust her any further than I could throw a piano.  Bill T.

[MikeBjerum]

I lived several years in both Phoenix and Southern California.  I know first hand that border security means nothing if you do not deal with those illegally here first.  Amnesty does not fix the problem, it only changes the name.

Our glorious leader's health payment plan includes Second Amendment (or at least the first releases of bits did) infringements.  Maybe I am incorrect on this, but I recently had surgery and during a follow up office visit and referrals I was hit with some questions I had never seen before.  I asked about them and was told that it was tied to "new health regulations and the medical center's adaptation to the rules."  Guns in the home was just one of the questions on the form!

[philw]

Loughner appears in court, doesn't enter plea
Gunman's family refuse FBI entry to home
Obama lauds courage of brave bystanders
Optimism for Giffords as condition stabilises
THE alleged gunman behind a shooting which killed six in Tucson, Arizona appeared in court today, shackled and with a shaved head, but said little and did not enter a plea

ared Loughner, who was overpowered by heroic bystanders after allegedly trying to assassinate US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords on Saturday, said little beyond answering "yes" to questions from the judge in the state capital Phoenix.
The federal judge agreed to the assignment of Judy Clarke, who represented the Unabomber and 9/11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaou, as the 22-year-old's lawyer.
The judge scheduled a preliminary court appearance for January 24.
It was earlier reported that family members of Loughner had barricaded themselves into their home today, blocking the FBI's attempts to gain entry.
The family of 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner reportedly built the blockade with 4x4 double-thick plywood, The Arizona Republic said.
At approximately 12.25pm local time, FBI agents banged on the blockade and demanded the family let them inside.
Other agents moved to the back of the house and could be heard talking to someone inside. Read more about the barricade at www.azcentral.com.
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has spoken of a sense of shock and grieving after the shooting rampage and lauded the heroism of bystanders who prevented the gunman wreaking further carnage.
"Obviously all of us are still grieving and in shock on the tragedy that took place," Obama said today in his most expansive remarks yet on the attack which wounded Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and killed six people.

"Families are still absorbing the enormity of their losses; we have a criminal investigation that is ongoing and charges that in no doubt will be brought," Obama said after talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"I think it's important for us to also focus, though, on the extraordinary courage that was shown during the course of these events," Obama said, praising a 20-year-old aide who ran into the line of fire to help Giffords.

He also lauded a "wounded woman who helped secure the ammunition that might have caused even more damage ... and citizens who wrestled down the gunman".

"In the coming days we're going to have a lot of time to reflect," Obama said in remarks that did not apportion blame or stray onto sensitive ground after the tragedy sparked debate about the tone of US politics.

"Right now, the main thing we're doing is to offer our thoughts and prayers to those who've been impacted, making sure that we're joining together and pulling together as a country," Obama said.

"And as president of the United States, but also as a father, obviously I'm spending a lot of time just thinking about the families and reaching out to them."

Earlier, the White House said Obama had spent part of the weekend calling relatives of the victims of the shooting, and political leaders of both parties.

Among his calls were the family of Christina-Taylor Green, the nine-year-old girl who was at the Giffords political event and was killed during the rampage by alleged lone gunman Jared Loughner.

Hope for Giffords

Doctors are breathing a sigh of relief as Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords reaches a third day without increased swelling in her brain.
Neurosurgeon Dr Michael LeMole of Tucson's University Medical Center says Giffords is still responding to doctors and her condition is stable. Her brain remains swollen, but the pressure hasn't increased. He says they're much more optimistic.
Of those injured in the deadly shooting Saturday in Tucson, eight are still hospitalized. One is in critical condition. Five are in serious condition, and two in good condition.
A federal judge, a congressional aide and a 9-year-old girl, Christina Taylor Green, were among the six people killed, while Giffords and 13 others were injured.
 http://www.news.com.au/world/obama-talks-of-shock-grief-after-arizona-shooting/story-e6frfkyi-1225985352319#ixzz1AhMbD11W

[tombogan03884]

M58, I think they were BSing you. I had surgeries twice since July and wasn't asked anything like that, in fact I had weapons in my possession the whole time.

[Overload]

Was I the only one not surprised that there's a special law about trying to kill a member of Congress?

Federal Criminal Code, 18 USC 531 (c)
§ 351. Congressional, Cabinet, and Supreme Court assassination, kidnapping, and assault; penalties

(a) Whoever kills any individual who is a Member of Congress or a Member-of-Congress-elect, a member of the executive branch of the Government who is the head, or a person nominated to be head during the pendency of such nomination, of a department listed in section 101 of title 5 or the second ranking official in such department, the Director (or a person nominated to be Director during the pendency of such nomination) or Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, a major Presidential or Vice Presidential candidate (as defined in section 3056 of this title), or a Justice of the United States, as defined in section 451 of title 28, or a person nominated to be a Justice of the United States, during the pendency of such nomination, shall be punished as provided by sections 1111 and 1112 of this title.

(b) Whoever kidnaps any individual designated in subsection (a) of this section shall be punished

(1) by imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or

(2) by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life, if death results to such individual.

(c) Whoever attempts to kill or kidnap any individual designated in subsection (a) of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

All men are created equal, just some more equal than others.