The news from Tuscon is still confused and incomplete. What is known is that there was an attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, that she is reported to be alive after extensive surgery on her brain, that she will require more surgery. We know that the assassin killed U.S. District Judge John Roll, 63; Christina Greene, 9; Giffords aide Gabe Zimmerman, 30; Dorothy Morris, 76; Dorwin Stoddard, 76; and Phyllis Scheck, 79 and that a number of other people were injured. A suspect was stopped at the scene by civilians who brought him down, that his weapon had more bullets and that if they hadn't done that, he probably would have kept killing people. Their action was heroic.
We also know that one of the most eloquent statements so far was given by the local Sheriff, Clarence Dupnik who talked about the violent political rhetoric that had poisoned the atmosphere in Gabrielle Gifford's district.
One of the other insightful things I've read is this post by Ruth Calvo at Firedog Lake.
There will be more to be said later.