John
01-13-2011, 07:56 AM
President Barack Obama has paid tribute to the six people killed in the Tucson shooting and honoured the congresswoman injured in the attack.
Speaking at a memorial service for the victims, he urged Americans not to place blame or seek a simple explanation.
"Bad things happen, and we must guard against simple explanations in the aftermath," Mr Obama said.
"The truth is that none of us can know exactly what triggered this vicious attack.
"None of us can know with any certainty what might have stopped those shots from being fired, or what thoughts lurked in the inner recesses of a violent man's mind."
He told the victims' families and friends: "America grieves for you."
Suspected gunman Jared Loughner has been charged with several offences and could face the death penalty if found guilty.
Mr Obama visited congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in hospital, where she remains in a critical condition, on his way to the service.
To wild applause he revealed she had opened her eyes for the first time since the shooting shortly after he saw her.
"Gabby opened her eyes," Obama said. "So I can tell you she knows we are here, she knows we love her and she knows that we are rooting for her."
Around 13,000 people attended the memorial service at the University of Arizona's basketball arena in Tucson.
Mr Obama, accompanied by First Lady Michelle, devoted most of his speech to the people killed and the 13 injured in Saturday's attack.
Ms Giffords, a Democrat, was shot through the head outside a grocery store where she was holding a constituent event.
Among those who died were nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green, whose funeral takes place later, a prominent judge and one of Ms Gifford's aides, who was engaged to be married.
Loughner, 22, is being held in custody pending his trial. The case has been assigned to California federal Judge Larry Burns.
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a resolution honouring Ms Giffords and other victims of the attack.
"Our hearts are broken but our spirit is not," said House Speaker John Boehner, fighting back tears.
Meanwhile, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has hit back at suggestions that political rhetoric contributed to the fatal shootings in Arizona.
Earlier Loughner's parents issued an apology, saying they did not understand why "the heinous events of Saturday" had occurred.
Source - Yahoo.
Speaking at a memorial service for the victims, he urged Americans not to place blame or seek a simple explanation.
"Bad things happen, and we must guard against simple explanations in the aftermath," Mr Obama said.
"The truth is that none of us can know exactly what triggered this vicious attack.
"None of us can know with any certainty what might have stopped those shots from being fired, or what thoughts lurked in the inner recesses of a violent man's mind."
He told the victims' families and friends: "America grieves for you."
Suspected gunman Jared Loughner has been charged with several offences and could face the death penalty if found guilty.
Mr Obama visited congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in hospital, where she remains in a critical condition, on his way to the service.
To wild applause he revealed she had opened her eyes for the first time since the shooting shortly after he saw her.
"Gabby opened her eyes," Obama said. "So I can tell you she knows we are here, she knows we love her and she knows that we are rooting for her."
Around 13,000 people attended the memorial service at the University of Arizona's basketball arena in Tucson.
Mr Obama, accompanied by First Lady Michelle, devoted most of his speech to the people killed and the 13 injured in Saturday's attack.
Ms Giffords, a Democrat, was shot through the head outside a grocery store where she was holding a constituent event.
Among those who died were nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green, whose funeral takes place later, a prominent judge and one of Ms Gifford's aides, who was engaged to be married.
Loughner, 22, is being held in custody pending his trial. The case has been assigned to California federal Judge Larry Burns.
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a resolution honouring Ms Giffords and other victims of the attack.
"Our hearts are broken but our spirit is not," said House Speaker John Boehner, fighting back tears.
Meanwhile, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has hit back at suggestions that political rhetoric contributed to the fatal shootings in Arizona.
Earlier Loughner's parents issued an apology, saying they did not understand why "the heinous events of Saturday" had occurred.
Source - Yahoo.