Newspaper Article Regarding Arizona Shooting
After a telephone interview that lasted about 20 minutes all the reporter managed to put in was a couple of lines for all I had to say regarding the shooting.
Congressman Richard Neal, Sen. Scott Brown call shootings of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, others 'horrific' Published: Monday, January 10, 2011, 7:50 PM Updated: Monday, January 10, 2011, 8:05 PM By Peter Goonan, The Republican
Follow Share5 5 Share close Google Buzz Digg Stumble Upon Fark Share Email Print Both U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, left, and Sen. Scott P. Brown, right, held press conferences in Springfield Monday to condemn the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and others, in Tucson, Ariz., over the weekend.This is an updated version of two stories posted earlier today.
Local members of Congress on Monday condemned a shooting rampage in Arizona that left six dead and 14 injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was critically wounded in the assassination attempt.
U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., each described the incident as “horrific” during separate appearances in Springfield, but said they will not alter their own schedules, public appearances or security.
Neal said he hopes the shooting, which occurred during a political event held by Giffords, offers “an opportunity to dial back some of the heated rhetoric” going on in political debate.
Neal said there is heated debate going on in the country over issues such as health care, and people need to realize that these issues under debate are “not Armageddon.”
The “charged atmosphere” can often be used by a small number of people in place of an “honest give and take,” Neal said.
Jared Loughner, 22, who was described as a social outcast and troubled man, has been charged in connection with the shooting spree, including a charge of attempted assassination of a member of Congress.
Ruben Rivera of Agawam, a member of the Greater Springfield Tea Party, said he believes many people, unfairly, are trying to make a link between the shooting and the Tea Party’s grassroots efforts seeking change and reduced government spending.
“It’s not fair for everyone to think we are gun-blazing yahoos,” Rivera said. “It’s not correct.”
Rivera said as far as he knows, the arrested man is totally anti-government, anti-social and has psychological issues.
Giffords, a conservative Democrat re-elected in November, faced threats and heckling over her support for immigration reform and her office was vandalized the day the House approved the landmark health care measure.
It was not clear whether those issues motivated the shooter.
Neal described Giffords as a “good friend of mine,” and said he hosted a fund-raiser for her in the last election, which he described as a difficult campaign.
He said there were many other victims, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl who were among those killed. The girl’s mother thought it would be a good idea for her to meet her congresswoman, Neal said.
Brown said his thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their family members.
Brown, whose special election victory last January was seen by many as the first stage in overturning the Democratic-controlled Congress, said he is not going to offer any hypothesis regarding if the shooting had anything to do with a heated political climate in U.S. politics.
Such a shooting can happen anywhere, whether at a political event or any other event on the street, Brown said.
Brown, who was in Springfield for a pre-arranged visit with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno at City Hall, called the shooting “horrific, tragic, senseless.” He and Sarno took part in a national moment of silence at City Hall at 11 a.m.
U.S. Rep. John Olver, D-Amherst, said in a prepared statement that he is “horrified by the barbaric violence that took place Saturday in Tucson.”
“The hatred that provokes and inspires this kind of act is unfathomable,” Olver said. “Gabrielle Giffords is a trusted colleague and friend. My thoughts are with Gabrielle, her family, staff and their families today, and I am hoping for her speedy recovery.”
Congressman Richard Neal, Sen. Scott Brown call shootings of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, others 'horrific' Published: Monday, January 10, 2011, 7:50 PM Updated: Monday, January 10, 2011, 8:05 PM By Peter Goonan, The Republican
Follow Share5 5 Share close Google Buzz Digg Stumble Upon Fark Share Email Print Both U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, left, and Sen. Scott P. Brown, right, held press conferences in Springfield Monday to condemn the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and others, in Tucson, Ariz., over the weekend.This is an updated version of two stories posted earlier today.
Local members of Congress on Monday condemned a shooting rampage in Arizona that left six dead and 14 injured, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was critically wounded in the assassination attempt.
U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., each described the incident as “horrific” during separate appearances in Springfield, but said they will not alter their own schedules, public appearances or security.
Neal said he hopes the shooting, which occurred during a political event held by Giffords, offers “an opportunity to dial back some of the heated rhetoric” going on in political debate.
Neal said there is heated debate going on in the country over issues such as health care, and people need to realize that these issues under debate are “not Armageddon.”
The “charged atmosphere” can often be used by a small number of people in place of an “honest give and take,” Neal said.
Jared Loughner, 22, who was described as a social outcast and troubled man, has been charged in connection with the shooting spree, including a charge of attempted assassination of a member of Congress.
Ruben Rivera of Agawam, a member of the Greater Springfield Tea Party, said he believes many people, unfairly, are trying to make a link between the shooting and the Tea Party’s grassroots efforts seeking change and reduced government spending.
“It’s not fair for everyone to think we are gun-blazing yahoos,” Rivera said. “It’s not correct.”
Rivera said as far as he knows, the arrested man is totally anti-government, anti-social and has psychological issues.
Giffords, a conservative Democrat re-elected in November, faced threats and heckling over her support for immigration reform and her office was vandalized the day the House approved the landmark health care measure.
It was not clear whether those issues motivated the shooter.
Neal described Giffords as a “good friend of mine,” and said he hosted a fund-raiser for her in the last election, which he described as a difficult campaign.
He said there were many other victims, including a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl who were among those killed. The girl’s mother thought it would be a good idea for her to meet her congresswoman, Neal said.
Brown said his thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their family members.
Brown, whose special election victory last January was seen by many as the first stage in overturning the Democratic-controlled Congress, said he is not going to offer any hypothesis regarding if the shooting had anything to do with a heated political climate in U.S. politics.
Such a shooting can happen anywhere, whether at a political event or any other event on the street, Brown said.
Brown, who was in Springfield for a pre-arranged visit with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno at City Hall, called the shooting “horrific, tragic, senseless.” He and Sarno took part in a national moment of silence at City Hall at 11 a.m.
U.S. Rep. John Olver, D-Amherst, said in a prepared statement that he is “horrified by the barbaric violence that took place Saturday in Tucson.”
“The hatred that provokes and inspires this kind of act is unfathomable,” Olver said. “Gabrielle Giffords is a trusted colleague and friend. My thoughts are with Gabrielle, her family, staff and their families today, and I am hoping for her speedy recovery.”