Sunday, January 9, 2011

Gabrielle Giffords: Congresswoman Assaulted by Gunman

There had been only eight congressmen killed or wounded before yesterday.  Yesterday, Gabrielle Giffords was shot by a murderer.  She lives barely, but not so the six others who are dead, including a long-sitting Federal judge, and more than a dozen wounded.

There is simply no place for this type of violence, whether it is politically motivated or due to mental disorder.  So far as political motivation goes, none of us should be so immature as to stoop so low to commit an act so vile.  It has been done before, regarding slavery, abortion, civil rights, war, and others.

Let us encourage one another to be mindful of our speech, lest we incite others to violence.  We can and must speak what we believe to be true, having persuasion as the goal, and explanation as the foundation.

This is the model of civil discourse to which we should strive.  Save violence for the defense of our nation against an aggressor who will not respond to diplomacy.  Save violence for the defense of our familes and homes against an aggressor who will not respond to warnings.  Save violence for the defense of the people against an aggressor state that deploys armed agents to take away our rights.

Gabrielle Giffords was unarmed.  She possessed only her vote in Congress and her ability to persuade and explain.  I pray for her speedy recovery, and those wounded with her, and mourn the deaths of the others, including Judge John Roll.

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