Gabrielle Giffords, Tucson Prepare for Anniversary of Shooting

[ellisonz]

By Neda Semnani
Roll Call Staff
Jan. 5, 2012, 5:46 p.m.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords plans to attend a vigil Sunday in honor of the victims and survivors of last year’s Tucson, Ariz., shooting, which claimed six lives and critically injured the Arizona Democrat.

The Jan. 8, 2011, shooting took place shortly after 10 a.m. Arizona time in front of a Safeway where Giffords and her staff were hosting a meet-and-greet with constituents. The shooter, alleged to be 23-year-old Jared Loughner, was targeting the Congresswoman, who was critically injured, but he also shot 18 others that morning. Six died.

Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, will participate in Sunday evening’s ceremony, which will be held on the University of Arizona’s campus mall. Her office did not know whether she is planning to speak at the event.

Other participants slated to attend include Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Dr. Peter Rhee, chief of the division of trauma, critical care and emergency surgery at the University of Arizona Medical Center. Rhee treated Giffords and the other victims of the shooting.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/gabrielle_giffords_tucson_prepare_for_anniversary_of_shooting-211347-1.html

Six people were killed in the attack; all but Christina-Taylor Green died at the scene of the shooting. The deceased are (in alphabetical order by surname):

Christina-Taylor Green, 9, of Tucson. Green was accompanied to the meeting by neighbor Susan Hileman.[38][112] Because her date of birth was September 11, 2001, she had appeared in the book Faces of Hope: Babies Born on 9/11 (page 41).She was the granddaughter of former Major League Baseball player and manager Dallas Green.
Dorothy "Dot" Morris, 76, a retired secretary from Oro Valley; wife of George, who was wounded.
John Roll, 63, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for Arizona, named to the federal bench by President George H. W. Bush in 1991.
Phyllis Schneck, 79, homemaker from Tucson.
Dorwan Stoddard, 76, retired construction worker, died from a gunshot wound to the head; his wife Mavy was wounded.
Gabriel "Gabe" Zimmerman, 30, community outreach director for Giffords, and a member of Giffords' staff since 2006. Mr. Zimmerman was the first Congressional staffer killed in the line of duty.

In addition to the six dead, thirteen other people were wounded by gunshot in the attack, while a fourteenth person was injured, but not by gunshot. Gabrielle Giffords and two other members of her staff were among the surviving gunshot victims.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tucson_shooting#Victims

"Tucson Shooting: Couple who escaped the bullets can't escape the horrible memories of that day"

Roger says his wife helps him through these rough spots, whispering to soothe frustrations, "She has this mantra: 'Act like Gabby would want you to act,' " he says. "It helps."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2011/12/14/20111214tucson-shootings-couple-who-escaped-bullets-cant-escape-horrible-memories.html#ixzz1idPx7TSH

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002119422

Find a Brady Campaign organized vigil: http://www.bradycampaign.org/toomanyvictims/local-vigils/

(Note to mods: The one year anniversary of the Tucson shooting is "really big news.&quot

Please discuss the victims and not the gun control debate in great detail. If you cannot make it to an organized vigil, please hold this tragedy in your thoughts in whatever way you deem appropriate. It's okay to show some emotion, I teared up just making this post; the feelings are still raw.

[enough]

1. As the friend of a young man who was killed in a random shooting, and as an even longer friend

of his parents, I know what you mean about the feelings still being raw.

I'm interested in the fact that, on DU, it has become essentially impossible to discuss the idea of controlling guns.

I can't tell whether the anti gun-control forces have just become louder, or whether it's best to capitulate and simply accept the idea that we live in a society where guns are everywhere. With great sorrow, I'm beginning to think it's the latter.

And here's the disclaimer. I always feel it have to say, when I get into this subject, that I come from a hunting family, I eat venison with gratitude, and I know how to use and keep guns. Yet the misery I've seen from random gun violence never ends, never fades.

Anyway, thanks for the post.

[ellisonz]

2. You're welcome.

I think there is a certain visceral reaction that most people get to certain things; where it feels personal, and the abstraction that desensitizes isn't wanted or possible at the moment.

I don't think we can have a productive discussion because too many people on both side are so entrenched in their positions, that the thought of leaving those trenches is terrifying. I definitely do think that it is worse naturally on the side of those who perceive themselves as having some sort of power in this regard, what you call "the anti gun-control forces."

Let us stand up for hope, for change, for progress on January 8th.

Robert F. Kennedy
Day of Affirmation Address at Cape Town University
"A Tiny Ripple of Hope"
delivered 6 June 1966, Jameson Hall, Cape Town, South Africa

------

"Give me a place to stand," said Archimedes, "and I will move the world." These men moved the world, and so can we all. Few will have the greatness to bend history, but each of us can work to change a small portion of the events, and then the total -- all of these acts -- will be written in the history of this generation.

Thousands of Peace Corps volunteers are making a difference in the isolated villages and the city slums of dozens of countries. Thousands of unknown men and women in Europe resisted the occupation of the Nazis and many died, but all added to the ultimate strength and freedom of their countries. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage such as these that the belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

"If Athens shall appear great to you," said Pericles, "consider then that her glories were purchased by valiant men, and by men who learned their duty." That is the source of all greatness in all societies, and it is the key to progress in our time.

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/rfkcapetown.htm

[fascisthunter]

11. I'm Sorry for your loss, and I agree with you

but I think their way of arguing is more of a tactic so people like you and I just give up trying to debate the issue altogether. In a democracy, we all have a right to regulate guns. It will always be that way, and the extremists who claim it isn't our right, will have to put up with it all. There are responsible gun owners who do believe in regulating guns, and then there are fanatics and shills for the gun industry.

[aikoaiko]

3. A tragic day with many victims.

My thoughts and condolences to everyone affected.

[ellisonz]

4. Kick.

Please help keep this kicked so more posters can see.

[ellisonz]

5. Kick.

[ellisonz]

6. One more time...

[ellisonz]

7. Really, no one?

This was big news last year...sad how we forget.

[ellisonz]

8. ...

[Ptah]

10. It's all over the news here in Tucson.

We know.

[ellisonz]

12. I just get the feeling it's not throughout the rest of the nation.

I'd be shocked if it wasn't news in Tuscon. But this should be of national concern; considering the wall-to-wall coverage it received when it occurred. I think it's convenient politically for many to forget this issue; wouldn't want to "antagonize" the gun owners.

[Ptah]

14. "Please discuss the victims and not the gun control debate in great detail."

Yes, please.

[ellisonz]

16. That wasn't...

...great detail. Just my thoughts about why you're not seeing more public officials making statements.

“I don’t have anything new for you,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said Thursday when asked about the anniversary. “It’s a solemn occasion. … It’s a remarkable recovery that Congresswoman Giffords has made, but we can never forget the lives lost on that day,” he added.

http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-mum-guns-giffords-anniversary-052516408.html

[Paladin]

13. Kicked. (n/t)

[Rhiannon12866]

15. K&R. Love this recent pic:

[ellisonz]

19. That's a good one. n/t

[malaise]

17. Way too sad

It's the only topic we were discussing a year ago

[ellisonz]

18. ...