Disappointed

By all accounts, the events of last Saturday, where a gunman shot 19 people, killing five in Arizona, were tragic. But, today, I want to write on something that has the potential of becoming a far greater travesty than those events.

I'm taking a break from the usual topical fare, so I can focus on this current events issue.

I was angered and saddened to learn of the shooting. But, the public events that have followed have me fired up. Within a couple of hours after Congresswoman Giffords and the 18 others were gunned down, the Pima County sheriff uses his first press conference as a political bully-pulpit.

With no evidence at all -- read that ZERO EVIDENCE -- Sheriff Clarence Dupnik made the claim that the suspect was a) a crazy man, and b) influenced by conservative talk radio and politicians. Dupnik expounded on those statements by claiming that it was the vitriolic words of the conservative right that led to events like Saturday's murders. (BTW, vitriolic is already the most overused word of the year.)

Sheriff Dupnik was extremely careless, reckless and completely unprofessional. And, it is possible that he may have blown the prosecutions case right out of the gate. He has essentially handed the defense it's insanity case.

But, the sheriff's fate is for the people of Pima County to decide. It is what has happened after the sheriff spoke that has me worked up.

In the four days since the shootings, we have witnessed liberal politicians and pundits laying the blame for the shooting on conservatives like Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh. Not only is it irresponsible to blame other people for one individual's actions, in this case it was a blatant and intentional lie. Further investigation has revealed that the shooter has been influenced by communism and liberal ideologies.

I am very disappointed in the people who are supposed to be truthful and reliable, but have sold their souls in order to push an agenda.