The Arizona Victims

On Saturday, January 8, a gunman opened fire at a supermarket outside Tucson, Arizona. His apparent target was Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who had set up a table at the supermarket to meet and talk with her constituents. The shooter is in custody, and he will face trial.

Six people were murdered and fourteen were wounded, including Congresswoman Giffords. We offer our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the victims, and wish for a speedy recovery for the survivors. Neither the survivors nor the families of the victims will ever be the same, but all of us should do whatever we can to bring them some measure of peace and comfort, a hope that can best be served by a period of calm and reflection in the wake of this senseless act.

It is particularly disheartening that violence intruded on an event in which everyday Americans were actively participating in our great civic tradition of peacefully interacting with their elected representatives, a practice which must always remain a cornerstone of our democracy.

The victims and survivors of this tragic incident are in all of our thoughts.

• Dorwan Stoddard, Dorothy Morris, and Phyllis Schneck were constituents who had stopped by Congresswoman Giffords’ “Congress on Your Corner” event to meet and talk with their representative.
• Christina Taylor Green was 9 years old, and wanted to learn more about public service. She had recently been elected to her school’s student council.
• Gabe Zimmerman was an aide to Congresswoman Giffords, and was helping at her “Congress on Your Corner” event.
• Judge John Roll lived nearby, and decided to stop by the event after Mass to thank Congresswoman Giffords for her help with the overflow of casework facing Arizona courts.