Rep. Gabby Giffords, Democratic Congresswoman of Tucson, who was shot in the head as she met with her constituents at a Safeway Supermarket on Saturday, was one of several congressional members included on Sarah Palin’s “target map,” that featured a gun cross-hairs graphic, superimposed on a United States map. The graphic was removed from Palin’s website today.
Giffords had supported President Obama’s health-care reform bill in 2009 and was one of several Democrats whose office windows were smashed after the bill passed.
Giffords, 40 years, who is in critical condition, was shot along with 18 others, six of whom were killed. Among those killed was Tucson’s Chief federal Judge John Roll and a 9-year-old girl, while five others are in critical condition. There are reports that Judge Roll who lives close by to where the public event was taking place, was merely passing through the public event to pay his respects to the congresswoman when he was killed.
Jared Loughner, 22, of Arizona and the suspected gunman, has been taken into custody. It is not clear whether the shooting was that of a lone gunman or if Loughner acted in conjunction with others.
President Barack Obama speaking earlier today condemned the shooting, calling it an “unspeakable tragedy” saying that “such a senseless and terrible act of violence has no place in a free society.” Obama has dispatched FBI Director Robert Mueller to Tucson to lead the investigation.
Although it is not clear yet what provoked such an unspeakable act, across the country many expressed shock at the open attack on the American political system and urged that the rhetoric be toned down.
Democratic and Republican leaders have condemned today’s massacre.
