Tragedy in Tuscon – the people matter

I was not tempted at all to jump into posting as events in Tuscon, Arizona unfolded Saturday afternoon. It was time for quiet reflection to remember those killed and injured, as well as those who stepped up to help immediately after the shooting and the first responders.

During the past 36 hours or so, we’ve heard plenty of stories about the victims who were shot outside the Safeway store as they passed by or waited to meet with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.). It was horrific. Although I only watched about three minutes of news coverage yesterday, I occasionally monitored the unfolding story via Twitter and the newsreader on my iPhone.

In general, I was speechless. Of course, like everyone else I had all of the normal who, what, where, when and why questions running through my head. My thoughts at the time really didn’t matter … the people matter.

Six people were killed yesterday.

Christina Taylor Green was born Sept. 11, 2001 and was recently elected to her school’s student council. She sounds like a great kid who will be missed. Parents losing a child is probably the most deviating thing imaginable, yet both of her parents seem strong and proud. Along with being interested in government, she was the only girl on the local Little League team.

Those who knew Christina Taylor Green said the precocious 9-year-old’s interest in government was the reason she attended the event Saturday that left five others dead and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords gravely wounded.

“She was all about helping people and being involved. It’s so tragic,” her mother, Roxanna Green, told the Arizona Daily Star. “She went to learn … and then someone with so much hatred in their heart took the lives of innocent people.”

Gabe Zimmerman was 30 years old and recently engaged. As an aid to Rep. Giffords, he was the staff member who set up the meet-and-greet at the Safeway. He had a knack for connecting with people.

“Gabe was unfailingly patient with people. He presided over thousands of constituent cases,” Karamargin tells the Times. “He was helping World War II vets get medals, people with Medicare benefits, veterans with benefits issues. These are the types of things day-in and day-out he did, and he was determined to just do the best he could. He worked hard, he really worked hard.”

Federal Judge John Roll was a good friend of Giffords and attended the meeting to say hi and discuss violence along the Arizona border. Michael McGown writes…

The other strong memory I have about John was his eagerness to complete his assigned lectures and swiftly return home to Arizona and his family, to which he was dedicated. A husband and father first and foremost, John was also a strong man of faith, and during the five years that we worked together, a good friend to me.

Pastor Dorwin Stoddard, 76 died while shielding his wife from the gunfire. His wife Mavy was shot in the leg multiple times and will recover from those physical injuries. From the Washington Post

“They normally go out to breakfast every Saturday,” said their pastor, the Rev. Mike Nowak. On this Saturday, Mavy told Nowak, she had wanted to tell their congresswoman that she was doing a good job.

Dorothy Morris went to the meet-and-greet with her husband George who was injured himself. Dorothy died at the scene. Dorothy and George were high school sweethearts and married more than 50 years.

The couple were Reno High School sweethearts, according to the Gazette-Journal, and have two daughters, Kim Hardy and Tori Nelson, who live in Las Vegas.

Neighbors said the Morrises moved to Tucson more than a decade ago from Nevada. Dorothy was a secretary and homemaker; George, who was shot in the shoulder, is a former pilot for United Airlines and the Marine Corps.

Phyllis Scheck, 79 also died, but I have not been able to find much in the news stories about her.

Fourteen others were severely wounded. Seven of them include:

  • Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, U.S. Representative from Arizona.
  • Bill Badger, 74. A retired army colonel shot in the neck moments prior to subduing the suspect.
  • Ron Barber, deputy director for Giffords.
  • Susan Hileman, shot in the leg, hip, abdomen and chest while accompanying Christina Taylor Green.
  • George Morris, a retired marine and former airline pilot, survived two gunshot wounds while trying to shield his wife Dorothy, who died.
  • Pam Simon, staffer for Giffords.
  • Mavy Stoddard, shot in the leg three times while shielded by her husband Dorwin

Take the time to remember those on the scene who were strong people. Some tackled the murdering bastard and held him down, some stepped forward to help the injured and dieing. Their efforts – along with the hundreds of first responders who saved the lives of I’m sure a few – should not be forgotten.

Early tomorrow morning, I’ll post some thoughts about the knee-jerk reaction by many bloggers, media-types and politicians during the past day and a half.

For those of you who sent e-mails and made – what I consider to be – snide remarks in the comment sections of other posts (most never were published) wondering why Jim and I were not posting after the tragedy in Tucson, let it be. This site is not generally for breaking news. Saturday and Sunday just happened to be days where travel, family and other responsibilities took precedence.

I’m certain Jim will be covering the topic tomorrow morning on the big show, so we’ll see you all tomorrow.

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

8 Comments

  1. Pastor Phil on January 10, 2011 at 5:39 pm

    As I sat in church yesterday I found it difficult not too reflect on the tragedy that unfolded the day before. I thought about those whose lives had been destroyed and the families left behind  who now must pick up the pieces and try to make sense of what happened.   I  listened to the news casts and read some of the blog comments and I was sickened even more by the hate that was being shouted from the rooftops  at people.  Those of you who have nothing in there hearts but hate and seak to exploit  this tragedy need to keep quiet and let those who have compasion in there hearts leed.



  2. Anne-EH on January 11, 2011 at 1:03 am

    These past few days, I have noticed big time that those on the left were using this very horrible shooting incident to promote their political agendas, (examples:go after the tea party or Sarah Palin, conservative talkradio or the internet blogs,ete.),in order to take away more of our precious freedoms. Could it be possible that the person who did this slaugther was simply not all that right in the head and read books which favored dictatorship such as "The Communist Manifesto" or "Mein Kemp",who also could have been involved in the occult? What I am very deeply concerned is that this will be used by those who will use both the victims and this horrible incident to promote a greater taking away of our precious freedoms.



  3. Anne-EH on January 11, 2011 at 1:23 am

    Steve, just posted this excellent blog article posting over at Free Republic. Thank-you Steve for your reflection.
    http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2654835/



  4. Lynn on January 11, 2011 at 3:08 am

    I thank you for another moving and beautifully written post. It is so important to remember the victims, reams will be written about the murderer.



  5. djt on January 11, 2011 at 3:45 am

    thanks for that wonderfully thoughtful post, Steve, and for the work you did to find out background of the victims.



  6. Dimsdale on January 11, 2011 at 6:36 am

    Thanks, Steve.  It is telling that you had to dig to find out anything about the non politicians that were killed/injured.



  7. RoBrDona on January 11, 2011 at 7:04 am

    I prefer to believe that these fine people were martyrs for freedom. A freedom that we take for granted but many others in the world only dream of. It takes a certain kind of person to be a leader in the modern world, standing up in public, knowing that at any time they are targets, not just of the usual "extremist" verbal (and perhaps physical) attacks, but any mentally troubled person who identifies them with some personal grievance. There is a price to be paid for freedom, and as long as Americans stand up and accept this, our country will remain a beacon of light to those less fortunate.     



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