Tragedy in Tuscon

Hi Everyone:

Today's blog is not the one I intended. But yesterday's tragedy in Tuscon begs to be discussed, so I will do just that.

Newly re-elected 40 year old Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, Democrat, Arizona, was shot in the head Saturday by 22 year old Jared Loughner, who opened fire outside a grocery store. Remarkably, Rep. Giffords is alive and in ICU. She was at a grocery store to meet and talk with her constituents after being sworn in to her new term last week.

All total there were 13 people injured and 6 killed, including a 9 year old child and a U.S. District Judge. Loughner had bought the handgun legally and then added a 30 round clip to the gun. As he was firing, Loughner was taken down by 2 witnesses, who held him until police arrived and arrested him.

This past election, Rep. Giffords fought a fierce campaign against a Tea Party candidate, but ultimately won re-election. Rep. Giffords was just doing the job she loved and was elected to do. She really cared about the people she represented and it showed. Rep. Giffords had met regularly with her constituents like the one yesterday, since she was originally elected.

Pima County, Arizona Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said that Giffords was the target and Loughner acted with an accomplice. The Sheriff pointed to the political rhetoric that has consumed the country and how some people respond to politicians talking about tearing down the government. "The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on this country is getting to be outrageous," the sheriff said. Then I heard that Sarah Palin posted a sympathy note to the victims. I thought that was odd but then I remembered that last year, Palin had posted a map of the United States with crosshairs of a rifle on targeted non-tea party politicians. Not surprisingly, Giffords was part of Palin's crosshairs. That was probably why Palin posted her statement.

My questions are: Did Palin's crosshair posting inspire or helped to inspire Loughner to commit this outrageous and senseless act? Only Loughner knows that answer for sure. But, does Palin have any remorse for her own outrageous rhetoric using the crosshairs? Or does Palin bear any responsiblity for this tragedy due to her crosshair posting? I guess time will tell as answers will be found as the investigation is only in its infancy.

Since this shooting, I strongly believe now more then ever, that all political rhetoric from all parties must end now, today, period! Common sense demands it, damn it! No good can ever come out of the rhetoric that makes people hate our political system and most of it members. Remember that there will always be people in this country, be they normal or not who sometimes need just a little push to do unimagineable things. Something pushed Loughner over the edge and now look at the consequences of his hateful actions.

Today, I would like to start a new campaign to stop rhetoric. It will be called, Ban All Rhetoric Now or BARN. If you believe in BARN, now is the time to start the BARN raising by calling, writing, texting or emailing your elected officials to stop all rhetoric. I can only hope!

Til next week.

Peter