One of the lost in Tucson was a friend of MS
 

Gabe Zimmerman, the congressional aide who was a fatal victim of the Tucson massacre was a friend of MS, and many of my friends.

The details are still few but I got a call from one of my friends at the Tucson chapter who told me that Gabe was a leading fundraiser for the Tucson walk and volunteered many many hours.

Besides losing Gabe, I also had met 2 others who were wounded when I went to Tucson for the walk. These two are friends of my friends in Tucson who have MS.

Tragedies like this are always horrifying, but to know victims makes it all that much harder.

My prayers go up to Gabe's family, fiancee, my friends who are grieving, and everyone whose life has been hurt or destroyed by this madman.

I usually wake up in the morning at 7am, watch the Today Show and go back to sleep. Today I couldn't go back to sleep.:( How horrible for the loved ones of the murdered and wounded.:(

God help them all.:grouphug:

Thanks for posting this, Earl and I am sorry for your loss.:hug:

I'm so sorry, Earl. My prayers are with all the victims and their families. Such a senseless tragedy.:(

That's really horrible. I'm sorry you lost your friend.

The death that's really affected me is the 9yr old girl. She's the same age as my youngest niece. My niece was supposed to be born the same day that little girl was. (9.11.2001)

Only reason my niece wasnt born the same day is because my sister had an appt for the delivery on an American military base in England that day. She got to the base and the SP's wouldnt let them on base and sent them home and she had to reschedule the delivery.

I look at how little my niece is and it scares me to know how the girl in AZ was killed.

I've been crying about the shooting off and on all weekend. It's really depressed me.

Yes, Earl, it is truly sad. A few that were killed went to my high school, including Judge Roll, as well as a few of the wounded. They assembled for prayers on Monday. They are having all sorts of services all over town.

One of my friend's daughter was biking down to the shopping center to go to Beyond Bread. For some reason, she changed her mind and decided she didn't want to bike down there. She would have been there at that time.

DD19 and I went to my brother's for dinner on Sunday and made the mistake of taking Campbell, which passes UMC. It was media city out there!:eek: And lots of people.

I have been keeping everyone in my prayers as it has effected so many people.:(

Thank you.
 

It is indeed a tragedy. The news said nationally we have about 3 mass shootings a year, this one hit close to home.

Probably one of the things that makes me madder than the shooting itself, is how people turn it political. "we need gun control" "we need this-that--.

At this time, we should be focusing on grieving and helping the survivors, the families of the slain, and the crowd that is affected by the trauma of the shooting. It's NOT about politics.

That being said, I feel the need to say,

1) Gun control doesn't work. Washington D.C. has the strictest gun control in the country, and last week 7 people died from gun shots. No matter the gun control, bad guy's will ALWAYS get the guns.

2) I am totally pro 2nd amendment. I own guns. I had hunted all my life before MS. If more citizens carried guns (either concealed or open) maybe the gunman wouldn't have been able to shoot all 18 victims.

Anyway, I DO NOT want this to get political. Lets pray for everyone affected.

sorry, didn't mean to rant, I am headed to Tucson tomorrow for the memorials, Obama will be there and it will be a circus, which is sad. I will let you know how it goes.

Friends in Tucson were close to the family. Her son Bobby was on the front page of the AZ Republic paper on Sunday. It was near to where DD and my friends live. I do not know as of yet if my friend was there attending the meet-and-greet.

I have nothing against guns but...it was sold to a loony with no background check. The gun held thirty bullets, not exactly time for anyone else holding a concealed weapon (I heard there was at least two people carrying concealed weapons) to react.

Guns are deterred by others having guns too? Imagine a shoot out. How many more bystanders would be hurt/killed in the melee?

It is not about a second amendment right to own a gun.

It is about regulations on gun control. How many bullets in a magazine? Is thirty too much? I say yes, thirty is too much. I have no problem restricting your freedom as to how many bullets your gun can shoot at one time.

Why carry a gun to a grocery store? Guns at a shooting range, good. Guns at a political event, bad.

The guy was crazy, no doubt. But there have been too many mass killings with guns capable of getting off huge amounts of bullets in a very short time span.

Yes it is about how sad this is but it is also about what can be learned. I don't want to separate the mourning from how it happened.

Aarcyn, I had a strong feeling you would reply to this with your opinion, and I had a feeling I knew what your opinion would be, and I was right. You are certainly entitled to your opinion but I (obviously) disagree.

I do agree we should have more gun control. Everyone (that is physically and mentally able to) should carry one. ONE person besides the gunman and cops had a Concealed gun that day, he was INSIDE Safeway at the time and when he came out, he put his hand on the gun, and dis-engaged the safety and was ready to shoot the gunman if he had not already been tackled. he was the second man to tackle him. IF he had been in the parking lot, maybe he could have shot the gunman before the psycho shot 31 rounds, which the gunman did. The 30+ round magazines are for target practice, so we don't have to reload as much, they are unfortunate in instances like these.

Why carry at grocery stores? for times like these. I carry 24/7. We don't know who the bad guy's are until it starts. I wish this guy would have been outside and been able to take the shooter out sooner. IF another responsibly armed citizen was there, maybe they could have lessened the casualties.

there are about 3 mass murders in the USA yearly. The cities and states with the strongest gun control have the most crime. Bad Guys will ALWAYS get the guns. No laws will/ can stop that. Just like Washington D.C. where they have the strongest gun control, and last week 7 people were murdered last week, I guess gun control works there. (I think I said that before).

BUT, as I said before, this is not about politics, it is about grieving and showing respect for the dead, injured and those who witnessed the horror.

btw both I and my husband as ex law enforcement carry. at ALL times! (edited to remove my rant)


I felt horrible about that little girl. She was born on 09-11-2001. She was very interested in government and was just elected to student counsel. She wanted to speak to the congressman about getting into politics in her own future. She wanted to go so badly that she had a neighbor take her. The sitting Judge! Dear God!

Have you seen the mug shot on this sick freak? He is clearly quite unstable. Had planned this a long time, and even at the tender age of 22 was filled with enough hate to last a lifetime in prison. its simply heartbreaking. :(