Loughner’s parents acted on signs of danger before Giffords attack

Published on March 28, 2013

The parents of Jared Loughner, concerned by his erratic behavior, confiscated a gun and disabled his car in the months before the killing spree that critically wounded congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords launches gun-control initiative

Published on January 8, 2013

Former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was severely wounded two years ago in an Arizona shooting, is launching a group aimed at curbing gun violence and raising enough money to challenge the well-funded gun lobby.

Giffords meets with Newtown officials to talk gun control

Published on January 7, 2013

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords traveled to Newtown, Conn., to discuss gun control with local and state officials.

Gabby Giffords faces Tucson assailant as he is sentenced to life

Published on November 8, 2012

Former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords stood in federal court to face her would-be assassin on Thursday moments before he was sentenced to life in prison for killing six people and wounding 13 others, including Giffords, last year.

Gabby Giffords returns home to Tucson

Published on August 13, 2012

Former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has moved home to Tucson.

Tucson gunman Loughner pleads guilty to murder, attempted murder

Published on August 7, 2012

A 23-year-old college dropout pleaded guilty on Tuesday to killing six people and wounding 13 others, including then-U.S. congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, in an Arizona shooting rampage last year, and will be spared the death penalty in exchange.

Jared Loughner to plead guilty in Arizona shooting spree

Published on August 6, 2012

Jared Loughner, the man accused of killing six people and wounding then-U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords in 2011, is set to plead guilty in a Tucson court on Tuesday, a person familiar with the case said.

Case of murder-suicide of Jewish Phoenix family develops

Published on June 8, 2012

While it has not been officially determined as such, police are convinced the case of James Butwin and his family was a carefully planned murder-suicide, the Tucson Citizen reported.

UPDATE: Gabrielle Giffords continues her recovery in Houston

By JewishJournal.com
Published on March 4, 2011

Eight weeks after the tragedy that struck Arizona, Gabrielle Giffords continues to recover in Houston.

Loughner pleads not guilty in Tucson shooting

By JewishJournal.com
Published on January 24, 2011

Jared L. Loughner, who the police said was responsible for the shooting rampage outside a Tucson supermarket on Jan. 8, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges that he tried to murder Representative Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides. Appearing in Federal District Court alongside his defense lawyer, Judy Clarke, Mr. Loughner entered a written plea to Judge Larry A. Burns of San Diego without uttering a word.

A Prayer for Tucson

Published on January 14, 2011

On this Shabbat Shira, the Sabbath of Song, We sing to God a song of grief For innocent victims Cut down too soon. May their memories be a blessing, May their lights shine brightly upon us.

Jewish groups join faith call for civility

Published on January 13, 2011

Jewish faith leaders joined a call for soul searching in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. "This tragedy has spurred a sorely needed time of soul searching and national public dialogue about violent and vitriolic political rhetoric," said the open letter to Congress signed by 50 Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders appearing Thursday in Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Congress. "We strongly support this reflection, as we are deeply troubled that rancor, threats and incivility have become commonplace in our public debates."

It’s time to reject rhetorical violence

Published on January 12, 2011

Sarah Palin did not shoot Rep. Gabriella Giffords. Neither did Glenn Beck. Or Rush Limbaugh. Or even Giffords' opponent in the 2010 campaign, Jesse Kelly. Giffords was shot by a mentally unstable terrorist, who after attempting to assassinate Giffords, kept shooting into the crowd that had gathered outside a supermarket in Tuscon, Ariz. Americans reacted with shock and horror, which should tell us something about our expectations. In a world rife with political carnage, in a country whose history is laden with ideological bloodshed, it matters greatly that in 21st century America, political violence is rejected wholesale. Now we have to start rejecting rhetorical violence.

Palin slammed for using ‘blood libel’ term [VIDEO]

Published on January 12, 2011

Sarah Palin's use of the term "blood libel" to decry blaming conservatives for the Arizona shooting has raised the ire of the Jewish community. In a video statement released Wednesday, Palin said that “Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. They begin and end with the criminals who commit them. Especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.” The blood libel refers to accusations that began in the Middle Ages that Jews used the blood of murdered Christian children to make matzah for Passover.

Tucson Jewish community anguished over Giffords shooting

Published on January 11, 2011

Following the shooting Saturday that critically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and left six dead, the Tucson Jewish community has come together to pray for Giffords and the other victims and offer their support. Giffords, who is Jewish, was among 14 wounded in the shooting rampage in front of a Tucson supermarket Saturday morning. Jared Lee Loughner was arrested for perpetrated the shooting and appeared in a Phoenix courtroom Monday. Among those killed were U.S. District Judge John M. Roll, 63; Christina-Taylor Green, 9; Giffords constituent services director Gabriel Zimmerman, 30; and Phyllis Schenk, 79; Dorothy Morris, 76; and Dorwan Stoddard, 76. Zimmerman, a native Tucsonan, was widely reported as being Jewish, although he was not.

Obama calls Giffords’ rabbi

Published on January 11, 2011

President Obama spoke with the rabbi of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords during a series of calls to friends and families of victims of the weekend shooting in Tucson. A White House official said Rabbi Stephanie Aaron of Tucson's Congregation Chaverim was among the Tucson-area officials, victims and families Obama reached Monday in the wake of the Jan. 8 attack that left Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, critically injured and six dead.

Giffords’ husband, U.S. Navy Captain Mark Kelly releases statement about the tragedy in Arizona

By JewishJournal.com
Published on January 10, 2011

The following is a statement by Gabby Gifford's husband U.S. Navy Captain Mark Kelly. For more information on the Arizona shooting, click here. "On behalf of Gabby and our entire family, I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the people of Arizona and this great nation for their unbelievable outpouring of support. Gabby was doing what she loved most – hearing from her constituents – when this tragedy occurred. Serving Southern Arizonans is her passion, and nothing makes her more proud than representing them in Congress.