Dem Rep Shot (to death?) in Arizona

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RawStory: Rep. Gabrielle Giffords among ‘at least 12’ shot outside Tucson grocery store

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and six others died after a gunman opened fire at a public event on Saturday, the Pima County, Ariz., sheriff’s office confirms.

The 40-year-old Democrat, who was re-elected to her third term in November, was hosting a “Congress on Your Corner” event at a Safeway in northwest Tucson when a gunman ran up and started shooting, according to Peter Michaels, news director of Arizona Public Media.

At least three other people, including members of her staff, were injured. Giffords was transported to University Medical Center in Tucson. Her condition was not immediately known.

Giffords was talking to a couple when the suspect ran up and fired indiscriminately from about four feet away, Michaels said.

[snip]

The suspect was described by witnesses as a young man in his late teens or early 20s. He has been taken into custody.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said that up to 12 people were injured in the incident, and a witness told CNN they heard up to 20 gunshots.

NPR: Congresswoman, 6 Others, Killed By Gunman

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and six others died after a gunman opened fire at a public event on Saturday, the Pima County, Ariz., sheriff’s office confirms.

The 40-year-old Democrat, who was re-elected to her third term in November, was hosting a “Congress on Your Corner” event at a Safeway in northwest Tucson when a gunman ran up and started shooting, according to Peter Michaels, news director of Arizona Public Media.

At least three other people, including members of her staff, were injured. Giffords was transported to University Medical Center in Tucson. Her condition was not immediately known.

Giffords was talking to a couple when the suspect ran up and fired indiscriminately from about four feet away, Michaels said.

According to Wikipedia, Giffords was born June 8, 1970. She would be 41 this June.

Gabrielle Giffords (June 8, 1970-January 8, 2011) was an American politician. She was the U.S. Representative for Arizona’s 8th congressional district from 2007 until her death in 2011. She served in the Arizona Senate from 2003 to 2005. She was a member of the Democratic Party.

Abortion

Giffords is pro-choice and has a 100% rating from NARAL.[8]

Economic policy

Giffords voted for Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008,[9] and for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[10]

Education

Giffords argues that Americans are competing on a global level and that this competition starts in the classroom. She is a critic of the No Child Left Behind law, viewing it as an unfunded federal mandate. She is a graduate of public schools and supports them with a variety of proposals to make them more effective.[citation needed]

Energy

Giffords believes that renewable energy sources needs to be a top public policy priority and she is a strong proponent of solar energy.[11]

Tucson Weekly noted a letter Giffords sent, on August 1, 2008, to congressional leaders regarding tax credits that were set to expire. She wrote “failure to extend the tax credits would deal a devastating blow to the U.S. renewable energy industry, just as it is beginning to take off.”[12]

In September 2007 she released a report titled: The Community Solar Energy Initiative, Solar Energy in Southern Arizona. The report states that Arizona has enough daily sunshine to power the entire United States. It reviews current energy usage and discusses how to increase the production of solar electricity.[13]

Gun rights

Giffords has discussed her gun ownership and support for gun rights [14] opposing the DC gun ban and signing an Amicus curiae brief with the US Supreme Court to support overturning it. [14][15] She has a D+ rating from the NRA[16] and a D- from the GOA.[17]

Personal Life

Giffords was born in Tucson, Arizona.

Giffords married U.S. Navy Captain and astronaut Mark E. Kelly on November 10, 2007. He was the space shuttle’s pilot on STS-108 and STS-121. STS-121 in 2006 was the first shuttle mission to launch on the Fourth of July. Giffords participated in a NASA tradition when she selected “Beautiful Day” by U2 as one of the wake-up calls for the STS-121 shuttle crew. On May 31, 2008, Kelly launched into orbit for the third time as Commander of STS-124. This mission in to space marked the first time an astronaut was married to a sitting member of the U.S. Congress.[36]

Giffords’ parents are Spencer J. Giffords and Gloria Kay Fraser Giffords. Giffords is Arizona’s first Jewish Congresswoman.[37] She is a member of Congregation Chaverim in Tucson.

After Hurricane Katrina struck in the late summer of 2005, Giffords spent time as a volunteer in Houston, Texas, in relief efforts for Hurricane victims. She wrote about her experience in the Tucson Citizen.[38]