Horrible news out of Tucson today:

Gabrielle Giffords, a congresswoman from Arizona, was shot in the head on Saturday at a public event held at a grocery store in Tucson, her spokesman, C. J. Karamargin, said. Others at the event, including members of her staff, were among the injured.

The gunman is in custody and described as a male in his early 20’s. There are also mixed reports on other injuries. I have seen numbers as high as 12, with six dead, including a 12 year old child and federal judge.

Giffords as one of the “targeted” Democrats in Sarah Palin’s now infamous map:

Interesting enough Palin’s people did pull this map down shortly after the news broke, however it still remains on Palin’s Facebook page.

UPDATE:

Here is the statement from Speaker Boehner:

Boehner Condemns Attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords

Washington (Jan 8)

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement condemning the attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and members of her staff today in Tucson, AZ:

“I am horrified by the senseless attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and members of her staff.  An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve.  Acts and threats of violence against public officials have no place in our society.  Our prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, her staff, all who were injured, and their families.  This is a sad day for our country.”

UPDATE 2:

GottaLaff finds this little gem from Facebook:

This is the kind of rhetoric that does nothing to advance America and it’s time for leaders, regardless of party, to start strongly denouncing it.

UPDATE 3:

More on the above graphic above:

A friend sent me a link to the Pima County Republican website, spotlighting a Jesse Kelly event.

I find the wording for the event (the part I circled) chilling.

There’s nothing wrong with having a gun-themed event, if that’s what you want to do. Count me out, but if you want to meet at a shooting range instead of a bowling alley or a baseball stadium, that’s your right and your privilege.

There’s also nothing wrong with having a “Help remove Gabrielle Giffords” event. That’s what the R candidates in CD-8 are trying to do.

But to put it all together, starting with “Get on Target,” moving to “remove Gabrielle Giffords,” then finishing with “Shoot a fully automatic M16” . . .

That goes way beyond cute and clever and moves into a frightening linkage between shooting guns and removing Giffords.

UPDATE 4:

AP is reporting that the gunman has been identified as Jared Laughner.