The sun was shining Saturday on Coastal Georgia — just at it was on Tucson, Ariz. But instead of going down in history as just another unremarkable day, Jan. 8, 2011, will live forever in this country as a day of terrible tragedy.
Six people have died, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is still in critical condition and more than a dozen others were injured after a young man, likely very disturbed and unstable, opened fire with a semi-automatic pistol in a crowded grocery store parking lot.
There are so many devastating aspects to the incident, it’s hard to even know where to begin. Never mind what side of the aisle your politics stand on or where you live, the after effects are surely being felt coast to coast.
Because Jared Loughner, who is only 22 and allegedly responsible for what happened Saturday, has been invoking his right to the Fifth Amendment, his motives are still technically unknown. Of course that hasn’t stopped media and pundits from offering their opinions, and blame has been placed on everything from political rhetoric to gun control to a lack of mental-health care.
But rather than pontificate on all the possible reasons why such an unthinkable act occurred, we instead offer this editorial as a small tribute to those who have died.
Killed in Saturday’s attack was 9-year-old Christina Green, who was born Sept. 11, 2001, and who harbored an apparent growing interest in public service and politics; U.S. District Judge John M. Roll, 63; Giffords’ aide, Gabe Zimmerman, 30; Dorothy Morris, 76; Dorwan Stoddard, 76; and Phyllis Schneck, 79.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these six and to Giffords and her loved ones as well.