Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords Shot In Arizona (UPDATED)

 
 Jesus, what is it with this country? "U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot outside a grocery store in Tucson while holding a public event, Arizona Public Media reported Saturday." According to reports, she's been transported to University Medical Center in Tucson, but her condition isn't known. UPDATE: NPR says she and six others have died.  UPDATE 2: Gunman is said to be uninjured and "called out names of people" as he aimed at targets. UPDATE 3: A sheriff of some sort on MSNBC is now saying she is STILL ALIVE. UPDATE 4: On MSNBC, a hospital official says Giffords is alive and currently in surgery. UPDATE 5: Among those killed, according to MSNBC: a federal judge. UPDATE 6: As we await the hospital news conference at 3:30 ET, a report from inside says Giffords was talking on her war into surgery, according to MSNBC. UPDATE 7: State senator on Fox News said Giffords was shot in the temple and the bullet went through her brain and exited her head and that she has made it through surgery and is responsive. UPDATE 8: Arizona district court judge John Roll is the federal judge who was killed, according to Fox News. He was appointed by George H.W. Bush. He and his family received death threats in 2009 for allowing a lawsuit by illegal immigrants. UPDATE 9: Also according to Fox: the shooter was a 22-year-old white male. UPDATE 10:  AP says shooter is named Jared Laughner. He's in custody. UPDATE 11: Status on Giffords is critical condition, according to doctor at the press conference. He expects her to survive. She was shot one time. One dead at his hospital: a nine-year-old child.She's the victim of a semi-automatic weapon. This sort of thing is apparently something that often happens in Arizona, because Giffords' staff reported feeling unsafe at town halls in 2009 when an attendee dropped a gun at one of her events. Sure, we joke about Arizona and other states being insane and violent, but here you go: Fine, Arizona. You win. Now stop. Jesus Christ. Keep refreshing this post and we'll keep you updated. 

From that article in 2009:

One of the callers to the Service Employees International Union said, "I suggest you tell your people to calm down, act like American citizens, and stop trying to repress people's First Amendment rights... That, or you all are gonna come up against the Second Amendment."

Sometimes these idiots are so dumb and hateful they follow through on their own chickenshit threats.

Meanwhile, this is a tab your editor already had open:

For all of that and more, Mr. Acosta’s class and others in the Tucson Unified School District’s Mexican-American program have been declared illegal by the State of Arizona — even while similar programs for black, Asian and American Indian students have been left untouched.

Goodbye, Arizona. Get the fuck out of the Union.

 UPDATE:  

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and six others died after a gunman opened fire at a public event on Saturday, the Pima County, Ariz., sheriff's office confirms. The 40-year-old Democrat was outside a Tucson grocery store when a gunman ran up and began firing indiscriminately. The suspect was taken into police custody.

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head and killed outside a grocery store in Tucson while holding a public event, Arizona Public Media reported Saturday.

Politics at its most horrifying:

This is what Google News looked like a few minutes ago:  Congresswoman hopes people of differing views can work together. Congresswoman shot dead. Jesus Christ, this country.

She is 40.

Here is what is being passed around Twitter:

Gabrielle Giffords is newly married. She is a step-parent. She has served in Congress since January of 2007 and has been a public servant for the people of Arizona for much of a decade.

If you don't want to close your laptop and go off to cry for the rest of the day, please don't read this next line:  "She has a D+ rating from the NRA and a D- from the GOA."

UPDATE: Though Fox and CNN confirmed she died, according to MSNBC, police say she is still alive. But she was shot "in the head."

UPDATE: On MSNBC, a hospital official says Giffords is alive and currently in surgery.

What is permeating all of this, of course:

In April, Giffords supported Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) after he had to close two offices, including one in Tucson, after he and his staff received threats following his call for a boycott of Arizona businesses in opposition to the state's controversial immigration law.

At least inciting her population to rise up against Hispanics and those who would support them got Jan Brewer re-elected, right? That was totally worth it. HAR HAR HAR.

 Here is a video we found on YouTube put together by some Teabaggers. Giffords is shown making comments about a "riot," but the videographer takes footage of Teabagger protestors outside her office to show the world how peaceful they are. Right.

2010 campaign video:  

From the Tucson Tea Party. They "wanted to talk to her":

The hospital has scheduled a news conference for 3: 30 pm ET.

And the video to top them all: Giffords responding to that SarahPAC thing with crosshairs over her district: "Sarah Palin has the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district and when people do that, they’ve gotta realize there are consequences to that action":

UPDATE: As everyone awaits the news conference, a report from the hospital says Giffords was talking on her way into surgery, according to MSNBC.And also Obama has released a statement: He also thinks this was awful!

You really should stop reading this post, because the irony we keep bringing you is disgusting. Here's a listing for an event with her 2010 midterm opponent:

UPDATE: State senator on Fox News said Giffords was shot in the temple and the bullet exited her head and that she has made it through surgery and is responsive.

The website associated with that SarahPAC graphic has been pulled. Whoops!

UPDATE: Arizona district court judge John Roll is the federal judge who was killed, according to Fox News. He was appointed by George H.W. Bush. He and his family received death threats in 2009 for allowing a lawsuit by illegal immigrants, fueled by talk-radio hosts.How very Arizona of you, Arizona!

Fucker news analyst on Fox News: The violence of Mexico is encroaching on Arizona now. Good to see they can scramble to stay on message!

UPDATE: Also according to Fox: the shooter was a 22-year-old white male.The poor young man probably fell in with the Mexicans! Pity him! (We are now vomiting some more.)

UPDATE:  AP says shooter is named Jared Laughner. He's in custody.

 Twitter:  

Let's hope so. A shot from an automatic weapon in the temple from her constituent and she survives? Would be amazing. Way to stick it to those fuckers.

UPDATE: Status on Giffords is critical condition, according to doctor at the press conference. He expects her to survive. She was shot one time. One dead at his hospital: a nine-year-old child.

Arizona crazies couldn't let only one guy have all the fun:

Here's an insane video that opens saying the uploader's name is Jared Lee Loughner. Sounds like a Paultard, but absolutely crazy and concerned with dreams. He wants to make a new currency or something. Fox News says he seems to be a war veteran. Afghanistan.

From YouTube:  "The government is implying mind control and brainwash on the people by controlling grammar. No! I won't pay debt with a currency that's not backed by gold and silver." The morans have risen up.

In addition to rampant irony, there is rampant yeesh.  Yeesh :  

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