All the standard head-scratchings are attached to this latest tragic event, for sure. I suppose that, by now, I don't see the purpose of trying to "figure these things out" anymore. We get one fanatic all sorted and categorized and, in X amount of time, along comes another. I won't even hint that I know very much about Congresswoman Giffords - other than that she is what one calls a "Conservative Democrat". Somehow, that label seems mostly safe, doesn't it? Not too radically right OR left, and so forth. But I guess there's really no safe label in such a vitriolic and/or divisive (to a, clearly, fiery dgree) environment as seems to exist on the political 'battlefield' these days. As it stands, I'll just settle with that this is all due to yet another nutjob allowed to run loose with a weapon handy. And such a young one again, too. Ms. Giffords managed to survive her wounds, so far, but how sad that those others in the small crowd there to hear/meet her did not fare so well. A 9-year old child? All I can think to say, as I hear all this unfold this morning: is "shame on us!" And while only one mad man pulled the trigger, I always feel a *we* when such a person as *him* strikes. Something needs to change in this society we call home. It seems peculiar to think that crazy people are able to stop themselves, I know. But I truly pray that there's a way in which we might learn to stop them. Or at least not set such a stage so as to encourage them so enthusiastically. And (yes) I'm a dreamer, I think, wasting such purposeful prayers. Maybe it can't hurt, however?

One, of many, articles/updates here.

One of the killed was a girl that was born on September 11, 2001...born on a day of terrorism and died by terrorism. Sad.

Oh, wow... I didn't even see that in the news I'd read.

The person who did the shooting seems to have had some mental issues...

Here is the information on that little girl.

'The weapon has been identified as a Glock 19 9mm semi-automatic pistol which the Mr Loughner purchased legally at a sports store in Tuscon, Arizona on 30 November, 2010.'

He just walked in and bought a semi-automatic over the counter?
What would you want to use a weapon like that for? Does it have a sporting purpose?

Unless it is a revolver, just about all handguns are semi-automatic. Apparently Loughner did pass the required background check to purchase the weapon.

The gun can be used for protection or sport (shooting targets, etc).

Thank you for explaining. I still get a shock when I see armed police in London, so the idea of buying a handgun over the counter is very alien to me.

Did anyone get a look at this guy's Youtube postings? I think they've taken them down now, but many people have reposted them. Search "Classitup10", that was his user name.

This individual seemed to have some serious mental health issues. Perhaps schizophrenia? So very sad for all concerned.
Perhaps one marginally good thing that may come out of this is a toning-down of the current political climate, as many are calling for. Too much hatred, bigotry, classicism, etc going on right now. Makes me weep for this country.

Yes, Taesma, that's what I'd hope for too. Some people who really ought to know better have been using some very "loaded" rhetoric, and even if it is not really responsible for the acts of a madman, it certainly does contribute to an overheated atmosphere. It's been interesting watching the backpedalling on a few Facebook pages of outspoken people today. I hope this will have at least one good effect, that of making everyone realize that pumping up the volume can cause real harm.

Yet another sad part about it is the girl was at the event because she had been voted student council president and wanted to learn more about politics. Heartbreaking.

Short news story about her here

Now those people who picket funerals of soldiers are planning to picket the funerals of those who died - including the funeral of the little girl.

Talk about the acts of a madman - Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church ....

Those people ought to think...what if the killed were one of their family? Would they still picket it? Probably so if they are going to picket the funeral of a nine year old child.

Why they picketing?

Was just about to ask the same thing, Quogequox. I cannot see the point in picketing a funeral.

I'm curious about the picketing as well. What is that all about?

They feel that the shooter is doing "God's work". Do a Google search for Fred Phelps or Westboro Baptist Church and 100s of stories will show up. I'm not going to link the latest ridiculous tirade released by his "church". It isn't hard to find though.

Well, he is the real charmer, isn't he!

I will probably get shot down in flames for saying this, but surely the American legal system is letting him get away with all this imbecilic behaviour. The case involving the Snyder family would have been the ideal opportunity to stop Phelps, but they let him go, and even awarded costs to him. What a load of legal claptrap!

And getting back to the original thread, surely a schizophrenic should not be able to buy a dangerous weapon so easily. If, as pyonir says, he passed the required background checks to allow him to do so, then the checks are obviously not tough enough.

I reckon I'll do it, then. Sully up the boards, and embarrass/insult my own humanity, by sticking up a quick link to the Westboro Baptist Church page from Wikipedia. I hadn't heard about their threatened "picket" surrounding the Arizona event until I saw about it here. Makes me sick to hear about it. I realize there's nothing original, at this point, in asking just how much lower this band of monsters can get, but I'm still compelled to ask. Is it any wonder how such vitriol and misfired contempt (especially as it applies to these fools) can drive even the most marginal lunatic into the nearest gun shop? The majority of us (I'd guess 99.5%) hear about or see this kind of garbage and feel nothing more than penetrating pity for the likes of these "church" members, small a group as they are. But there might be that one whacko out there who has a look and thinks "Hallelujah! I'm not alone!" as he drops to his knees in some manic rapture? Emptying an arsenal or two on any nearby pedestrians as he does it .

Here's the link. Read it your own risk ~ and please realize that this one, or other groups like it, do not represent the overall spirit of the US. They are only a tiny example of why it seems right that the word 'fringe' rhymes with 'cringe'.

I just read about the Westboro Baptist Church on the link you posted Gats. Unbelievable! And to think, many people read and see things like this and say, "If that's Christianity I want no part of it!" Well, THIS IS NOT CHRISTIANITY! This is HATRED! It does indeed make me 'cringe'.

Gats, in no way, shape or form would I categorise this loose cannon as a normal American - I would not classify him as a normal 'anything'. If he was down here (and we have our share of morons too), he would probably be classed as a fruit-loop.

I cannot and do not condone his behaviour but our legal system is as weak as yours. Martin Bryant murdered 34 people in cold blood in 1996 - will he die for that? Eventually, but maybe not for 30 years or so. He is mad anyway.

The only difference is that John Howard, Australian Prime Minister at the time, banned guns of any sort. That was about the only decent policy decision that he made but it has saved a lot of lives.

The Land of the Free has had four Presidents killed, and quite a few 'dented'. Isn't it about time that people realise that guns DO kill people? The right to bear arms may have made sense in the 18th century, but these days it just seems to be an excuse.

He wasn't on any treatment - no one in the government knew about him, that's the problem.

"I like your Christ, I do not like your
Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi I don't know how Phelps believes he walks with Christ.

Just out of curiousity, what do the background checks consist of?