What has become of our nation? Our president spoke for me and
all fellow Americans when he represented us at the memorial
service in Tucson on Jan. 13.
I felt our President made a great presentation as we all attempt
to recover from the brutal attack of Jan. 8. He hailed the
heroes of that day, those who tried and succeeded in ending
the chaos and killing. He spoke of those who risked and gave
their lives during the unbelievable carnage.
The events of that day have been foremost on the minds of Americans;
many of us wept as we saw the activities unfold on the news
and later learned of the horrific toll from the shooting. Most
of us watched in horror as the announcements came about Congresswoman
Gifford being the main target and the fact she was shot at
close range in the head. The reports that she was still alive
after a bullet had passed completely through her head, hitting
her brain were hard to comprehend. We all wondered how that
could be possible, I know I did.
Soon we were receiving updates that many more people had been
shot, 19 or more. The shooter was said to have used a 9mm Glock
custom hand gun, which is used by law enforcement worldwide
for its rapid-fire capability. It held a magazine of over 30
rounds, with another spare magazine ready to use, but the heroes
interceded and tackled him. Among those heroes was a tiny,
older lady, who grabbed the magazine that had fallen on the
ground.
The awful event raises many questions. Why? Why would anyone
have a magazine that can hold that many shells? Most automatic
firearms, especially pistols, lose accuracy after the first
or second round is fired. We can only assume the shooter knew
the shots would go wild after the first few. That seems like
what took place.
The major news stations all sent their best reporters to Tucson,
and, as the nation sat in disbelief, the news stories flowed.
Most were accurate, but accounts conflicted regarding how many
were injured and how many fatalities there were.
The accounts regarding Congresswoman Gifford were the most
compelling and disturbing. The surgeons and other doctors,
some said to be combat trained, caring for her were very truthful
and willing to share news about her condition. They described
how the bullet had grazed her brain then exited the skull.
Chances of her survival were given as slim.
As
reports continued to be aired about the aftermath of the “Congress
on the Corner” assembly, news of a 9-year-old young lady
being killed reached us. It was told she had become interested
in politics because she had just been elected to her school’s
student council. A federal judge who stopped
after Mass to chat with Congresswoman Gifford,
an old
friend of
his, was
also among those killed. In all, 19 people were
shot, six of them fatally.
The
memorial, attended by President Barack Obama, the first lady
and a host of politicians, took
place in
a packed
arena of more than 13,000 while another 13,000
were in a nearby
stadium with a live TV feed. I know just how
huge the arena is because
I attended my granddaughter’s college
graduation in one very similar at ASU a few
years ago.
Today
as I write, 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green was laid to
rest much too soon. Her mom,
dad and
11-year-old brother
were in attendance. I will forever remember
the picture of her posing in her ballet outfit
with
a radiant,
beautiful
smile on her face. I will forever remember
our President’s
words saying; “I want to live up to her expectations,
I want our democracy to be as good as Christina imagined it.
All of us, we should do everything we can to make sure this
country lives up to our children’s
expectations.”
As
the memorial concluded, the television news channels turned
to discussion panels
to tell
us just what
the President had
said and of course what he meant. I never
understand why they have to do this; can’t we hear and comprehend ourselves?
One such speaker must have watched a different service because
he felt the President’s address was
too political.
In
the aftermath, we all have questions: Why was the troubled
person still on the
street?
What caused
him
to become so
violent? Why didn’t any of those interviewed who knew him not
report his threatening actions? Why wasn’t
he tested when he was expelled from college
pending a
medical and
mental exam? Why were the postings on
his website not reported to
law enforcement? If they were, why was
he not detained? We may never know the
answers
to
any of our questions.
News reports announced that Walmart is selling the extra large
capacity clips as fast as they can get them because people
are afraid they will be banned from sale in Arizona. And again
my questions, why would anyone need one? Why would they want
one?
May
those whose lives were taken rest in peace and as President
Obama eloquently
expressed, “If
there are puddles in Heaven, Christina
is jumping in them today.”