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From the BBC:
Jeff Rogers, chairman of the local Democrats, told the BBC that Ms Giffords was "a rising star" in the party with hopes of eventually winning the Arizona Senate seat.
He described her as "a wonderful congresswoman and a wonderful person", adding: "We just can't continue to have this kind of carnage on school campuses and against public officials."
The Republican Speaker of the House or Representatives, John Boehner, said: "I am horrified by the senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and members of her staff.
"An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve. Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society. Our prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, all who were injured, and their families. This is a sad day for our country."
Is anyone else as appalled as I am by the fact that every official statement made today about the unacceptability of violence has been qualified by something like "against public officials"? I actually can't find a statement that can be summed up as "Shootings are bad. Period." I can't even find one that could be summed up as a more conservative "It is unacceptable to shoot American civilians." It's really worrying me.
Jeff Rogers, chairman of the local Democrats, told the BBC that Ms Giffords was "a rising star" in the party with hopes of eventually winning the Arizona Senate seat.
He described her as "a wonderful congresswoman and a wonderful person", adding: "We just can't continue to have this kind of carnage on school campuses and against public officials."
The Republican Speaker of the House or Representatives, John Boehner, said: "I am horrified by the senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and members of her staff.
"An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve. Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society. Our prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, all who were injured, and their families. This is a sad day for our country."
Is anyone else as appalled as I am by the fact that every official statement made today about the unacceptability of violence has been qualified by something like "against public officials"? I actually can't find a statement that can be summed up as "Shootings are bad. Period." I can't even find one that could be summed up as a more conservative "It is unacceptable to shoot American civilians." It's really worrying me.
