The carnage in Tucson flies in the face of the eloquent, profound teaching in the speeches and writing of Dr. King, whose memory we mark this week, and who, sadly became, himself, a victim of senseless wrath and violence. Tucson's murderous rampage was sudden, freighting, cold-blooded mayhem, leaving six innocent Americans dead, many more wounded, and critically-wounded, Congresswoman Giffords, fighting for her life. Sad, as well, those who chose to "never let a crisis go to waste," by pouncing on this deadly-tragedy with unwarranted, unsupportable statements, doing so, shamefully, in the name of political posturing. Citing harmful political rhetoric, lib-speak for conservative media, subsequent calls for media balance are nothing more than a transparent smoke-screen for the real desire to muffle public thought opposed to their own. Much to the chest-beaters dismay, it now appears that the accused shooter paid little attention to news media, driven rather, by a distorted, simmering-animosity toward either the Congresswoman, or the government she represents.
Following the shootings, well-known and respected Quinnipiac University- polling found that only15% of those surveyed named political rhetoric as the cause, and just 9% faulted current gun laws, while 23% pointed to our mental health system, and a full 40% felt the Tucson shootings simply couldn't have been prevented. In sum, said the researchers: "Americans are rejecting the blame-game." As well they should. Gratifying to find that there's little collective citizen interest in further over-riding the First Amendment, or imposing more restrictions on the Second. Our hope now is that Congresswoman Giffords continues her amazing recovery, and that the comfort and grace of Almighty God will help heal the physical pain, and the emotional-loss of loved ones, resulting from this senseless tragedy.
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