XPost: alt.private.investigator, alt.sci.sociology, alt.america   
   XPost: alt.education   
   From: thanks.democrats@splcenter.org   
      
   Representative Gabrielle Giffords and 18 Shot Near Tucson - The   
   New York Times   
      
   TUCSON — Representative Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Democrat,   
   and at least 17 others were shot Saturday morning when a gunman   
   opened fire outside a supermarket where Ms. Giffords was meeting   
   with constituents.   
      
   Six of the victims died, among them John M. Roll, the chief   
   judge for the United States District Court for Arizona, and a 9-   
   year-old girl, the Pima County sheriff, Clarence W. Dupnik, said.   
      
   Ms. Giffords, 40, whom the authorities called the target of the   
   attack, was in critical condition Sunday morning at the   
   University Medical Center in Tucson, where she was operated on   
   by a team of neurosurgeons on Saturday. Dr. Peter Rhee, medical   
   director of the hospital’s trauma and critical care unit, said   
   Saturday that she had been shot once in the head, “through and   
   through,” with the bullet going through her brain.   
      
   President Obama, speaking at the White House, confirmed that a   
   suspect was in custody and said that the director of the Federal   
   Bureau of Investigation, Robert S. Mueller III, was on his way   
   to Arizona to oversee the investigation.   
      
   Investigators identified the gunman as Jared Lee Loughner, 22,   
   and said that he was refusing to cooperate with the authorities   
   and had invoked his Fifth Amendment rights. Mr. Loughner was in   
   custody with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Saturday   
   night, the Pima Country sheriff’s office said.   
      
   Mr. Loughner had exhibited increasingly strange behavior in   
   recent months, including ominous Internet postings — at least   
   one showing a gun — and a series of videos in which he made   
   disjointed statements on topics like the gold standard and mind   
   control.   
      
   Pima Community College said he had been suspended for conduct   
   violations and withdrew in October after five instances of   
   classroom or library disruptions that involved the campus police.   
      
   The authorities were seen entering the Loughner family house   
   about five miles from the shooting scene. Investigators said   
   they were looking for a possible accomplice, believed to be in   
   his 50s.   
      
   The shootings raised questions about potential political   
   motives, and Sheriff Dupnik blamed the toxic political   
   environment in Arizona. There were immediate national   
   reverberations as Democrats denounced the fierce partisan   
   atmosphere in Ms. Gifford’s district and top Republicans quickly   
   condemned the violence.   
      
   Mark Kimble, an aide to Ms. Giffords, said the shooting occurred   
   about 10 a.m. in a small area between an American flag and an   
   Arizona flag. He said that he went into the store for coffee,   
   and that as he came out the gunman started firing.   
      
   Ms. Giffords had been talking to a couple about Medicare and   
   reimbursements, and Judge Roll had just walked up to her and   
   shouted “Hi,” when the gunman, wearing sunglasses and perhaps a   
   hood of some sort, approached and shot the judge, Mr. Kimble   
   said. “Everyone hit the ground,” he said. “It was so shocking.”   
      
   The United States Capitol Police, which is investigating the   
   attack, cautioned lawmakers “to take reasonable and prudent   
   precautions regarding their personal security.”   
      
   Because of the shootings, House Republicans postponed all   
   legislation to be considered on the floor this week, including a   
   vote to repeal the health care overhaul. The House majority   
   leader, Representative Eric Cantor, Republican of Virginia, said   
   lawmakers needed to “take whatever actions may be necessary in   
   light of today’s tragedy.”   
      
   Speaking of Ms. Giffords’s condition, Dr. Rhee said at a news   
   conference, “I can tell you at this time, I am very optimistic   
   about her recovery.” He added, “We cannot tell what kind of   
   recovery, but I’m as optimistic as it can get in this kind of   
   situation.”   
      
   Ms. Giffords remained unconscious on Saturday night, said her   
   spokesman, C. J. Karamargin.   
      
   Several aides to Ms. Giffords were wounded, and her director of   
   community outreach, Gabriel Zimmerman, 30, was among those   
   killed. The girl who died was identified as Christina Green, a   
   third grader. The others killed were Dorothy Morris, 76; Dorwan   
   Stoddard, 76; and Phyllis Schneck, 79.   
      
   Ms. Giffords, who represents the Eighth District, in the   
   southeastern corner of Arizona, has been an outspoken critic of   
   the state’s tough immigration law, which is focused on   
   identifying, prosecuting and deporting illegal immigrants, and   
   she had come under criticism for her vote in favor of the health   
   care law.   
      
   Friends said she had received threats over the years. Judge Roll   
   had been involved in immigration cases and had received death   
   threats.   
      
   The police said Ms. Giffords’s district office was evacuated   
   late Saturday after a suspicious package was found. Officers   
   later cleared the scene.   
      
   Ms. Giffords, widely known as Gabby, had been speaking to   
   constituents in a store alcove under a large white banner   
   bearing her name when a man surged forward and began firing. He   
   tried to escape but was tackled by a bystander and taken into   
   custody by the police. The event, called “Congress on Your   
   Corner,” was outside a Safeway supermarket northwest of Tucson   
   and was the first opportunity for constituents to meet with Ms.   
   Giffords since she was sworn in for a third term on Wednesday.   
      
   Ms. Giffords was part of the Democratic class of 2006 that swept   
   Democrats into the majority in the House. She narrowly won re-   
   election in November, while many fellow Democrats were toppled   
   and the House turned to Republican control.   
      
   “I saw the congresswoman talking to two people, and then this   
   man suddenly came up and shot her in the head and then shot   
   other people,” said Dr. Steven Rayle, a witness to the   
   shootings. “I think it was a semiautomatic, and he must have got   
   off 20 rounds.”   
      
   Dr. Rayle said that Ms. Giffords slumped to the ground and that   
   staff members immediately rushed to her aid. “A staffer had his   
   arm around her, and she was leaning against the window of the   
   Safeway,” the doctor said. “He had a jacket or towel on her   
   head.”   
      
   At least one of the other shooting victims helped Ms. Giffords,   
   witnesses said.   
      
   Television broadcasts showed a chaotic scene outside a normally   
   tranquil suburban shopping spot as emergency workers rushed to   
   carry the wounded away in stretchers. Some of the victims were   
   taken from the site by helicopter, three of which had arrived.   
      
   Law enforcement officials said that the congresswoman had   
   received numerous threats.   
      
   Congressional leaders of both parties issued statements   
   throughout the day expressing outrage at the shooting as well as   
   concern and prayers for Ms. Giffords and her family.   
      
   The new House speaker, John A. 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   
      
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