Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords is shot

[Technologic]

US congresswoman has been shot and killed at a public event in southern Arizona.

Gabrielle Giffords, a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives, was shot in the head at close range in front of hundreds of people.

The gunman was arrested after the shooting at the event at a supermarket in the city of Tucson.

Members of her staff were among up to 12 other people who were also shot. Six are reported to have died.

Ms Giffords, 40, who represented the eighth district of Arizona in the House, was married to space shuttle astronaut Mark Kelly.

She served on several congressional committees, including those covering the armed services and foreign affairs.

Jeff Rogers, chairman of the local Democratic Party, said Ms Giffords was "a rising star" in the Democratic Party and had hoped to eventually win the Arizona Senate seat.

"That is terrible news. She was a wonderful congresswoman and a wonderful person," he told BBC News.

He added: "We just can't continue to have this kind of carnage on school campuses and against public officials."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12143774

[Fez]

KOLD_news13 KOLD News 13 LATE BREAKING: UMC officials confirm Rep. Giffords is in surgery. She has not been declared dead.

http://twitter.com/marklittlenews/st...24503301742593

Blimey.

[Stephen]

so is she dead or not

[Rozi]

according to Sky Breaking News she has been pronounced dead now


----

ok retract that, they just tweeted saying that was false:

@SkyNewsBreak

Reuters: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is alive and in surgery after being shot in the head - earlier reports said she had died.

[Nationalism]

Blimey, a bit severe over politics however the Americans haven't got the best track record when it come's to guns.

[Misawa]

I'd be surprised if she lives.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Are the anti-gun lobby going to make a comment yet on this story blaming this fluke event on the legality of guns in the U.S.? (I await it).

[GommeInc]

.... Why was she shot? The man who did it is a bit of a berk to be honest, not sure what he was attempting to prove. This is why you shouldn't give guns out willy nilly to apes.

[Fez]

http://twitpic.com/3o85wi

One of the Sarah Palin gun crosshair maps that her people are scrubbing the webs for...

[Inseriousity.]

The report says she was shot at a supermarket then someone saying "we just cant have this kind of carnage on school grounds"??

Anyway, I hope she recovers. was there a motive or just a mad man?