Shooting victim tries to visit Loughner's parents

[Ptah]

Source: Arizona Republic/AZCentral.com

Eric Fuller, one of the victims wounded in the Tucson shooting that killed six and critically injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, paid a visit to the home of suspected shooter Jared Loughner's parents Friday.

Fuller told 12 News that he was there "to forgive them and possibly their son," but the couple wasn't home. The younger Loughner remains in jail and has been denied bail.

Suffering from a bullet-wound to the knee, Fuller got out of his car and limped to the door. He said he decided to stop by on the way to a doctor's appointment.

"So I thought I'd come over here and try to forgive them," he said. "I know that sounds crazy."




Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/14/20110114giffords-shooting-victim-loughner-parents.html

---

These four paragraphs are the full article.

[hayu_lol]

1. Common sense says that this is a time to leave this family alone...

they didn't do anything and he wants to 'forgive them'? They maybe coulda, woulda, shoulda said something to someone about their son's strange actions but they didn't. Now they live with that.

After the rampage of the media and assorted police and other authority figures/organizations have blasted their lives...forgiveness is not Eric's to give.

[kestrel91316]

5. He is doing something akin to what the Amish families did in Nickel Mines, PA.

Of course, we had some DUers blow a gasket over THAT, too.

Some of you just don't GET it. Pity.

[bbinacan]

7. Are you serious? n/t

[kestrel91316]

14. Yes. Quite. You really do need to read up on the Amish response to the

killings of those schoolchildren in Nickel Mines, PA. We all could stand to learn a little bit about how to respond to tragedy.

How would YOU respond? By sending hate mail or firebombing their home?? Or by shunning them? Or suing them? Have you thought for one minute that maybe coming to them with a loving heart in THEIR time of pain even though YOU might be hurting would be a healing gesture for all involved?

[Donnachaidh]

39. if that kids is as psychotic as reported, those parents are in a hell no one would want to be in

And they were in that hell before he pulled the trigger.

It was a class act to stop by. I applaud the gesture.

[Igel]

42. "How would you respond?" is a really good question.

It doesn't have a single answer.

Going to them with a loving heart would be a great thing. Going there offering forgiveness, however, might not fit the bill. You may think you're offering love, but you're doing it on your terms--if it's an offence from their POV going with what you think of as a "loving heart" may well not really be love in action at all.

It might just be best to ignore them and let them heal on their on. "Shunning them" implies that they had fairly frequent contact that's broken off abruptly. If they were strangers before there's no need to describe continued lack of contact as "shunning." Then, perhaps a month later, perhaps a year later making contact might be appropriate. It depends. I can't know because I don't know the people involved. The Loughners seem very private, but the husband and wife are different. Perhaps reaching out to one sooner would be appropriate.

[kestrel91316]

49. Forgiveness isn't really the correct term for it, but we don't have a name for

it, at least not a simple one or two word thing to call it, so "forgiveness" is the word that gets used. It's going to the person to let them know that you bear them no ill will for what happened (because they are feeling a LOT of guilt even if they don't deserve it). People like Loughner's parents feel and the Nickel Mines killer's spouse and parents felt plenty of guilt, and would be eaten alive by it if they didn't get told it wasn't their fault. And there is no one better to convey that message than one of the injured or even a family member of one of the dead.

I don't expect everybody to understand this "forgiveness" thing, but it saddens me to hear calls for suing the parents when it is now clear that they were blindsided and did not intentionally drive him to kill. You might want to read up on Nickel Mines and watch the movie they made about it. I think there is a book, too.

And of course, IF anybody is thinking about suing the Loughner parents, then of course visiting them is 100% inappropriate. The whole point of the Amish approach to this sort of situation is that suing people is unthinkable to them.

[EFerrari]

59. I actually think that all of these people should be monitored for a while.

The mother collapsed and Fuller himself doesn't sound at all strong. I thought they were going to bring in grief counselors. Some people don't make it through this kind of trauma at all and some don't do it very well. I hope to gawd someone has their stuff together enough to watch out for the survivors, all of them.

[ProudDad]

86. There's no fucking money in this state

for mental health services and grief counseling, etc.

It's all been used up for tax breaks for corporations and rich people...

[crikkett]

93. but doesn't that keep the beer cheap? n/t

[1monster]

64. The word is empathy. How often have we heard the sentiment of the bereaved

to the family of someone who took the life (accidentally or otherwise) expressed as "YOU still havae your son/daughter! You can still hold them!" etc.

I've always thought that it must be so much harder to be the parent of the person who committed a heinous crime than to be the parent of the victim. The parents of the victim can greive cleanly, and remember their child in love. They will never get over the death of their child, but the pain will ease somewhat over time.

The parents of the person who committed a heinous crime not only has to mourn the the crime, but also their child; to learn to live thorugh the shame and revulsion that they also feel toward their child. They will always wonder if there was something else they could have done, whether something they did that caused the problem in the first place, even though they know that it was most likely an organic failing (nature as opposed to nurture) or something that happened that happened over which they had no control. They will carry the hell of their child's crime with them until they die. There is no cure for it.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

71. "Re-assimilation" does it for me.

[PoliticAverse]

9. There was a movie made based on the incident...

"Amish Grace" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1559025/

[sabrina 1]

11. I agree and I think it is a wonderful gesture on his part.

I remember the Amish tragedy and their reaction to the family of the killer. If only the whole world could learn to have so much compassion. The parents and other family members of people like Loughner are victims too, but they don't get much support generally. The pain they must feel, especially since they cannot even offer condolences to the victims without risking an angry reaction, must be unbearable.

I admire this man for having the heart to think about them and for trying to reach out to them.

[roguevalley]

34. Imagine the lives of Lee Harvey Oswald's kids and wife. How much

it might have meant if someone had done that. they are sentenced too, all the families of dipshits.

[MrMickeysMom]

55. I know the Amish wouldn't have phones, but wouldn't he want to call ahead?

Given the media hounding the family, it would have been a remote chance of finding anyone there, I'm sure.

I'd proceed lightly, and not let the media know what you're doing, were I one of the wounded.

[LisaL]

78. I think Mr. Fuller needs help of his own before trying to "forgive"

Loughner or Loughner's parents.

[FailureToCommunicate]

18. The "rampage of the media and police'"?!? Sorry. No sympathy for the

parents till we know more. Law enforcement -especially in a federal case - need to do what they have to do. And do you happen to know ANYTHING about that? What was done to his family?
Implying they are victims too seems at best premature.

[EFerrari]

21. Are you kidding? Of course they are. They lost their son

in a horrible way that they can never undo.

[Raschel]

23. Exactly. Unless a person have dealt with mental illness (if he is mentally ill) they have no idea

how difficult it is for the family to deal with. Parents and siblings end up with mental issues of their own dealing with it. It's not black and white. Nothing ever is.

Until we know the story, I reserve judgment. In fact, I don't want to judge this even if we ever do find out the whole story. It's too painful for words.

[roguevalley]

36. agreed. We tried to get the saloons and liquor stores around here

to not sell booze to my alkie aunt and they refused. we couldn't get her in a hospital or anything. Not until she kills someone would anyone care

[FailureToCommunicate]

26. In what way are they victims? And how have they "lost their son in horrible

ways"?

I think there is a LOT of personal projection going on in this thread.

[EFerrari]

30. Not really. Do you have children or siblings?

Or even, a good friend. Pick one and imagine they came down with a mental illness so profound that they could kill and wound a group of innocent people.

You've lost that person and you will never get that person back.

[Donnachaidh]

62. what is obvious in this thread is the lack of knowledge or understanding of the horrors of mental

illness -- and how it effects EVERYONE around the patient in distress. To charge others with personal projection when discussing the situation is just flat out ignorance.

Seems to me that some on this thread just want ti villify the parents as much as the kid. Vengence tinged discussion is NO discussion. It's the rhetoric of revenge.

Of course, that rhetoric DOES make those parents *victims*. Thanks for proving that point.

[FailureToCommunicate]

65. There is no "vengeance" in what I posted. No "revenge rhetoric" that 'proves'

any point. I am suggesting that it is usually more productive to wait till more is known, instead of supposition. How exactly is that "ignorance"? Since you don't know me, you have no idea what I may or may not know about mental illness or it's effect on families.

[roguevalley]

35. the father saw him take a bag to his car and chased him into the desert

where he lost his son. HE tried. Judge not lest ye also be judged.

[sabrina 1]

41. Of course they are victims. They lost a son and additionally

have to carry guilt over what he did for the rest of their lives. Unless they were accomplices, they are victims.

[1monster]

19. Don't be to sure that they didn't try to tell anyone or get help for their son.

I have a family connection, (no, he never killed or wounded anyone) who needed help and his parents tried, and tried desperately to get help for him from private, and government organizations to no avail.

The government would much rather deny any kind of mental health assistance to citizen (which would be cheaper in the long run and allow the person to be a contributing member of society) and wait until the mental instability morphs into a criminal behavior. THEN, the government is johnny on the spot to lock 'em up and throw away the key.

How many times have you seen a news story where the parents of someone who has just committed a crime, state that they had tried to get help for their child but had met with rebuffs everywhere they turned?

Quite often, it is society which is to blame, not the parents. Our society is primitive when it comes to treating mental and emotional disorders. And a major majority of the psychologist and psychiatrists are incompetent charletons, not even as effective as witch doctors.

[Igel]

44. In Arizona the parents could initiate court proceedings.

They could defer payment for the fees. They could even represent themselves (unlike Texas, where you need to hire a lawyer).

The only problem is that it's adversarial. Usually if you go that route the person's going to hate you, even if you lose.

For Loughner, that would have put him over the end: His parents enlisting the state courts to impose court-ordered psychiatric care on him. If you're paranoid, well, there's proof that they're out to get you. He was an adult and has all the usual Constitutional rights that we think adults should have: due process, presumption of innocence (or, in his case, competence), right to defend himself, right to privacy; under Arizona law, to have the treatment be as non-restrictive as possible and of as limited duration as possible. Stripping him of his rights isn't a trivial matter. He wasn't their ward. Makes a *huge* difference. It's likely that he only started acting really strange, undeniably ill, towards his 18th birthday.

[roguevalley]

33. when that man shot those little Amish girls, the Amich people

who were parents and grandparents went to his wife and family and asked how they could help her. This is what we are supposed to do but few of us can. That is why when someone in court does a victim impact and asks for mercy for their attacker, etc it seems so surprising. That is a very elevated spirit, that man.

[LisaL]

79. Supposed to do? Says who?

[PSzymeczek]

50. The thing they did not do

was try to get their son help. They had been told. They had documentation that they could have taken to a judge and gotten a court order for an evaluation. His mother was in a supervisory position with Pima County, and had excellent benefits, as far as insurance is concerned. His parents chose to do nothing.

[bbinacan]

2. That strikes me as odd.

Forgive the parents?

[slackmaster]

3. He shouldn't have any contact with them at all, in case he decides to sue them later

It's pretty unwise for him to have done that IMO.

[sabrina 1]

12. Why would he want to sue them? Is that all that motivates people

in this country? How about the far more valuable commodity, especially since it is so rare, of simply human kindness? When did all this 'suing' for everything begin? I swear, I think it has totally dehumanized this country with people holding back from just doing what is right because 'god forbid' there might be some way to heap even more misery on a couple of human beings who probably don't have much to begin with and whose lives are totally destroyed right now.

Good for him. He sounds like a rare person in today's 'me, me, me and what can I get for me' society.

And before anyone tells me I don't know what I'm talking about, I've been in such a situation, where I lost the most precious person in the world to me, and I wanted no revenge, or money. None of that brings back the person and only hardens the heart and blocks the real emotions that people need to feel in order to truly heal. I requested that the person who took away the life of our loved one, not be prosecuted. And I do not regret it for one minute. I've watched people eat themselves up seeking revenge and money and I do not envy them at all.

[Ptah]

13. +1

It's often been said that the only people that can forgive are the immediate victims.

A admire this action.

[Catherina]

56. He can forgive them from afar without making a media circus out of it. n/t

[Donnachaidh]

63. a moment of kindness is a media circus? Really?

:wow: just :wow:

[Catherina]

66. That's the way I see this, especially with his statement that he's feeling very combative

and making it to the media, as well as involving the media in his intention to go see them to possibly forgive them. We see it differently.

[ProudDad]

87. This is a town where people visit each other

and try to comfort one another door to door...

As Shelton said, we may have 1 million inhabitants but mainly we're a small town community...

[FailureToCommunicate]

16. Laws and forgiveness are two different things. We must have laws, and you

are free to forgive if you feel like it.

[roguevalley]

37. and we are free to try and understand pain wherever we see it

even if others can't. being empathetic, something Obama asks us all to be is hard for some. I have no problem understanding and supporting what he did. Because I understand pain and suffering when I see it. When that memorial was going on, they talked about their son as a madman. A parent must want to die to hear that and to be so very much alone, as alone as anyone in the world. As alone as lee harvey oswald's wife and children. Empathy. Learn it. It is a good thing.

[sabrina 1]

54. There is nothing to forgive them for. They are not guilty of anything.

[slackmaster]

27. I didn't say he wanted to sue them, or that he should want to sue them

He shouldn't do anything that closes the door to that choice.

[Ptah]

28. He wants to forgive.

You want retribution.

:shrug:

[sabrina 1]

40. Well, I disagree. I think he should do what is in his heart and not

worry about suing anyone. Money isn't everything. And apparently that is what he did. Good for him. I wish there were more like him in this world.

[kestrel91316]

15. Disagreed. He's following the example of the Amish after Nickel Mines.

I applaud him.

[LisaL]

80. We aren't Amish.

[sweetapogee]

94. I didn't know

I didn't know Mr. Fuller is Amish! Given that the Amish don't as a rule hire lawyers to navigate the criminal court systems it will be interesting to see how he manges his current situation being under arrest for making death threats to some bagger.

[hayu_lol]

4. Struck me as odd as well.

First thought was that he might be a fundy but that didn't turn up. In those circumstances, don't think I would welcome one of the victims on my doorstep.

[sabrina 1]

46. And in a sane society it would be odd NOT to show compassion.

But here in the U.S. where revenge and anger and victimhood are so prevalent, a small act of kindness probably is odd, sadly.

[Raschel]

24. Why is it odd? He's reaching out to them to ease their horrible burden. I'm sure that would mean

a great deal to them.

[kestrel91316]

6. Two words: Nickel Mines.

Good for him. Hope he can connect with them and they both can find some healing in it.

[Tansy_Gold]

8. I'm with you.

I don't think Loughner's parents set out to raise a killer. And I'll continue to believe that until evidence is presented otherwise.

Which makes them victims as well. They, too, have lost someone.




TG, TT

[Ptah]

10. I thought it was a compassionate attempt.

[Raschel]

25. I thought of the family as I watched the memorial. I can't imagine how horrible this is for them.

[LisaL]

17. Wouldn't it best to "forgive them" from a distance?

[roguevalley]

38. he wanted to come to them and make some sense of the moment

and see them and perhaps help each other. It surprises me that the idea of empathy -not necessarily you but the thread- seems to be such a stray notion to some. Interesting.

[sabrina 1]

45. Apparently not, which is why he chose to try to see them in person.

He is a superior human being, at least in the world we live in today. He puts humanity above selfishness. He could harbor anger and hatred. Instead he chose to comfort the afflicted and they are afflicted. That is an admirable thing to do. But it shows how far this country has gone over to the dark side, that a simple gesture of compassion is now considered to be 'odd'. It should be the norm, in a sane society.

[LisaL]

48. He didn't get to see them in person because they

weren't home. By the way the guy is quoted as "I know that sounds crazy" so I doubt he'd object to "odd."

[sabrina 1]

52. Well of course he said that. He is aware that in this society

a gesture of compassion like that would be considered crazy. I must be crazy too because I would probably do the same thing, knowing that it would viewed as crazy here. However, if I lived in a more sane society, one that wasn't bent on revenge for every perceived wrong, and these people are not guilty of anything, I would not need to preface the action with 'I know this sounds crazy'. He acknowledged the society he lives in, that is all and he went against the grain, good for him.

[EFerrari]

51. He seems to be a human being that isn't quite in charge of himself

if his interview with Amy is any indication. He seemed to be barely containing some pretty strong feelings. He probably shouldn't be out by himself just now.

[sabrina 1]

53. I didn't see the interview. But I see nothing at all odd about

wanting to let those people know he doesn't blame them, if that is what he intended to do.

[EFerrari]

58. I'm sure he meant well. But it's a pretty inappropriate gesture

considering those parents are also suffering and don't know him from Adam and he has no idea what kind of shape they are in. But, he seems too traumatized to have his boundaries straight, the poor guy. If we had a real health care system, someone would be monitoring him.

Watch the interview if you get a chance. ETA: It's audio mostly but you can hear the strain in his voice, imo.
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/1/14/tucson_shooting_survivor_it_looks_like

[sabrina 1]

61. I have listened to the interview, and honestly, I found nothing

too disturbing about it. I think people are misunderstanding, eg, his blaming of Palin, Beck et al. in light of what we know now. But if you listen to what he said, he was talking about the night he was shot before much was known about the shooter. He WAS traumatized, who wouldn't be, after being shot twice. He had campaigned for Gabrielle Giffords and was aware of the threats and the attacks (on her office and the gun thrown on the ground on another occasion, and the Palin cross-hairs map). So, it was natural that he would come to the conclusion he came to that night.

He says he couldn't sleep. That is very understandable, and he wrote down some things, the Dec. of Ind. which he knew by heart (I've had kids in my class just seven years old who memorized it for a play because 'it was fun to do') and he wrote down what he repeated on the show, the fact that he believed the hateful rhetoric from the right had finally resulted in real violence.

I am sure he is very emotional right now. He is a disabled veteran also, I don't know if he was in Vietnam but if he was, being shot might bring back memories for him. And he obviously cared a lot for Rep. Giffords and probably feels some guilt that he couldn't have protected her, especially being a veteran and knowing the threats she had been subjected to.

I agree that he should have some support. All of those involved should. As for his visit to the parents, I don't think it was inappropriate. When the Amish people did the same thing, no one thought of it as inappropriate. It IS possible that they might not have welcomed the visit, so maybe it was a bit thoughtless from that pov. But considering they had their home invaded by law enforcement and the media, I imagine a visit from someone who simply wanted to say he was willing to forgive, might have been a relief.

The media didn't spare their feelings. They camped outside their home causing them to be afraid to leave the house. So, while it might have been better to talk to someone who knew them and ask first, I really think he was acting in a spontaneous way which might or might not have been welcomed. The same thing could be said about the Amish victims visiting the family of the killer in that situation.

I hope he has a support system and people he can talk to. But honestly, he sounded rational to me, if emotional which most of those who were there that day, especially those who were wounded, probably will be for quite a while.

Just my take on it :-)

[LisaL]

67. I think it's rather obvious Mr. Fuller isn't dealing with the situation well.

Especially considering the most recent developments.
"Pima County Sheriff's spokesman Jason Ogan said later Saturday that Fuller has been charged with threats and intimidation and he also will be charged with disorderly conduct."
http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=13849741

[sabrina 1]

74. No, he's not. He was shot twice and he is aware of the months

of threats and actual attacks on Congresswoman Giffords by the right, a person he seems to have the utmost respect for. Were any of them arrested? Glenn Beck's comment section on his nightly attacks on a female professor is filled with death threats. Anyone of them arrested? The women being insanely targeted by these months long threats has said she is very 'unnerved' and yes, a bit 'frightened' by them.

I hope he was taken to a hospital for treatment and not to a jail. The man is, as he said himself, clearly traumatized.

But wanting to let the parents of Loughner know that he is forgiving is entirely separate from that. It is something that ought to be done more often.

There is simply nothing wrong with feeling compelled to let people who are suffering greatly and not in a good position to be able to garner any sympathy, that not everyone blames them or holds them responsible, and that regardless, there are people who understand what they are going through. I have done it myself in a situation where it would have been 'more normal' to be angry or to attack. And I have no regrets about it whatsoever.

But seeing how upset he is, how affected by the shooting of the Congresswoman and the other victims, it would be better if he waited a while and maybe wrote them a letter. Meantime he needs to take care of himself. I wish him well and hope he gets the help he needs. Another victim of the Republican Hate Machine.

[EFerrari]

72. Looks like he got himself arrested today.

I must have bat hearing for people who are losing their stuff, sabrina. :(

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=208337&mesg_id=208337

[Kali]

20. he was on Democracy Now! today.

http://www.democracynow.org/

[EFerrari]

22. I believe this man was interviewed by Amy today

and he sounded half way into a breakdown. Some of the things he said barely made sense. I hope he has someone taking care of him.

[Alexander]

69. He got arrested for making threats on Christine Amanpour's show today.

I don't think Eric Fuller is mentally well.

[EFerrari]

75. He isn't right now. Some people don't handle near brushes with death

as well as others.

[chill_wind]

29. Yeah, I'd be a little paranoid about one of the victims just appearing at my door

unannounced as well. These parents are probably pretty guarded and fearful about greeting anybody just dropping by right now. By all accounts, they were pretty private people as it was, for years before this tragedy. Why wouldn't they be even more so, right now of all times?

[EFerrari]

31. If you listen to his interview, he doesn't sound very well. n/t

[Catherina]

83. He's on disability for Vietnam era PTSD.

He didn't sound very stable in the interview I watched. Poor man. I hope he gets help.

[rasputin1952]

32. I have never been one to see "Corruption of Blood"...

individuals are responsible for their action, families are not.

My inclination would have been to basically leave these people alone; but I am also of the mind that if I were in the neighborhood, and could bring these people even a small sense of peace, I would have done what this man did.

I would have to say this man is the exception, forgiveness is a very difficult thing to come to, far more difficult than compassion or empathy. Forgiveness requires one to let the entire situation go away; he may not forgive Loughner, but he can help many lives by forgiving those who are being blamed for something someone else did.

Being a father, I hope I never have to feel the pain these two individuals have to live with for the rest of their lives. I am not going to judge them, and they are most certainly not the only parents that go through what they are going through.

[TorchTheWitch]

43. forgive the parents for WHAT?

Forgiving someone implies that they've done something wrong that harmed you. If he wants to forgive their SON and tell the the parents that, fine, but wanting to forgive the parents themselves when they haven't DONE anything to be forgiven for is fucking insulting and cruel as hell.

[Quixote1818]

47. He probably meant to say he didn't blame them and it came out wrong. nt

[Catherina]

57. Thank you! n/t

[mackerel]

60. On the surface it seems like a nice and kind gesture

but you just can't know what it is like dealing and living with someone who is severely mentally ill and won't seek treatment. My brother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia over 20 years ago and has put my family through hell. I'm not sure I could relate to someone coming to my door telling me they forgive me.


I'd much rather someone put my brother out of his misery.

(I realise how harsh that sounds.)

[EFerrari]

76. Yep. Families who live with this endure more than anyone who doesn't can know. n/t

[Alexander]

68. This is the same guy who got arrested for making threats today.

Eric Fuller sure has been busy lately.

[LisaL]

70. Anger is a normal reaction to stress.

I am betting it's much to early for him to be thinking of "forgiving" people.

[EFerrari]

77. It looks like a way to leap frog over the incident

and get out of all that pain and of course, it didn't work for him.

There is no safety net for vulnerable people, none. Which is how we got here.

[LisaL]

81. It's only natural to be angry after something like this.

[EFerrari]

82. Sure, anger, blame, whatever.

The point is to stablize him, at least, so he's not a walking train wreck.

[EFerrari]

73. He sounded like he was coming apart in his interview with Amy

to me, anyway.

Instead of f#cking charging him, someone should put him in a safe place where he can get some care.

This country is sickening any more.

[Catherina]

84. And we come full circle. Whence all the money for wars to destroy

generations of young people and then claim you don't have the money to treat them?

Even someone like Loughner, I must wonder, if he had been able to get care when teachers first noticed the symptoms so he could keep a job and FUNCTION, would any of this have happened?

Fuller is another victim of our sick country. I'm so profoundly ashamed.

[chill_wind]

89. Whatever happened to trauma support and counseling

for victims after crises like these? Where WAS the support system around this man?

I was struck by what he said in the Amy Goodman interview about staggering out into the grocery store parking lot, telling a woman pushing a cart that he'd been shot, and she laughed him off in disbelief.

The Arizona Star reported that he then drove himself to the hospital, and was then transferred to another. It doesn't sound like, in all the chaos, anyone on the scene even knew about him and his injuries. He was in the hospital for two days. Maybe long enough to medically stabilize, but two days isn't enough time for anyone to be out of such trauma and crisis psychologically. Talk about post traumatic stress! It doesn't sound like there was anyone around him trying to help him process any of this. And now he's been involuntarily committed.

[LisaL]

90. He has been involuntarily committed into a medical facility,

so hopefully he will get the help he needs.

[ProudDad]

95. I'm afraid that most of the trauma support and counseling

was confined to the one hospital that was surrounded by the media...

This state is dead last when it comes to public mental health funding...

But we have among the least taxed corporations and rich people...whoopie!

[Joanne98]

85. That was nice of him.

[Ter]

88. What a buffoon

n/t

[Skittles]

91. inappopriate

[David__77]

92. Forgive the parents? What did they do?

I don't like this whole guilt-by-blood thing.

[Youth Uprising]

96. Give the man a break

I'm sure he wasn't implying that Loughner's family is to blame for all this. He probably though they felt guilty and wanted to reassure them that he wasn't placing the blame on them. I thought it was a nice gesture.