Jared Loughner's parents gave the following statement

[Mark Maker]

The family of Jared Laughner handed out a statement to the media on Tuesday afternoon just before 4:00 p.m.

This is a very difficult time for us. We ask the media to respect our privacy. There are no words that can possibly express how we feel. We wish that there were so we can make you feel better. We don't understand why this happened. It may not make any difference, but we wish that we could change the heinous events of Saturday. We care very deeply about the victims and their families. We are so very sorry for their loss.

Thank you,
The Loughner Family


KTAR.COM

Reporter on scene Sandra reports 2 men in suits, maybe lawyers, came out and handed statement to media and answered no questions.

[somone]

1. Okay. Leave them alone.

[tekisui]

2. This.

[Maat]

14. +1

Leave them alone - they obviously struggled unsuccessfully with a big problem. Enough. They didn't do it. The shooter did.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Agreed

[EstimatedProphet]

28. Yes.

[Fleshdancer]

+1000

May they find their way to peace some day.

[Dappleganger]

36. Yes.

The entire family needs professional help.

[sabrina 1]

3. So sad. My heart goes out to them as I said before.

I truly hope they will be treated with kindness. :cry:

[Whisp]

12. me too. I can't imagine how everyone feels about all this.

the survivors, the families of those that didn't, who will get support and comfort that will hopefully help them.

but these poor people, the parents, will most likely have to suffer this pretty well alone.

[Control-Z]

21. So do I.

As a parent of sometimes moody teens, I imagine this could happen to just about anyone, given the right (or wrong) set of circumstances. I'm just so very grateful that my children have been able to handle stressful situations in safe and usually appropriate ways.

Those poor parents. Many people will blame them.

[Kurovski]

4. A neighbor reported that the Mrs. is near a nervous breakdown.

We need a stronger social net for the mentally ill and their families.

[malaise]

8. I can imagine their pain

Poor folks - they didn't deserve this.

[sabrina 1]

10. If anyone needs support right now, it is these unfortunate people.

The other victims will have the support of the nation, but these two poor people probably feel like pariahs. I hope something is done for them as their suffering is unimaginable. I don't know who I would rather be, them or one of those who lost a loved one, but regardless, they are also victims.

It is a simple statement and I am glad they have made it as apparently they did not know how to get it out to the media.

[BR_Parkway]

30. Amazing the difference in this statement vs what the RW would say if

the situation were reversed. Thank you for reminding me once again at the core difference between those on the right and those on the left. we care about people first.

[hlthe2b]

5. I do hope they have some friends/family that will help them through

As much as they appear to have been detached from the neighborhood they've lived in for more than 20 years, it sounds like some of the neighbors were trying to reach out to them and being quite kind and compassionate towards them.

[MindandSoul]

6. So sad for them! They got a double whammy!

They are victims too!

[Mike 03]

7. They are in a world of pain, and I wish them well.

They lost too.

[lpbk2713]

9. I suspect their lives with Jared wasn't any picnic.

And RayGun saw to it that there were no mental health resources for them to seek help from.

[onethatcares]

11. I agree, leave them alone.

the heartbreak they are suffering is unimaginable to me. I sincerely hope they get help to deal with the stress.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

13. Prayers and Thoughts to them and all the innocent victims

Of Jared Loughner.

[kestrel91316]

15. Glad to hear this. For a time I was worried that they were rabid teabaggers who raised

their son to be horrible.

Yep, leave them in peace for now. Their stories will come out in due time.

[JuniperLea]

17. You still don't know that isn't the case...

But yes, leave them alone... we don't have enough information.

[kestrel91316]

22. True, but at least they aren't barricaded in their home having a police standoff,

like I feared was developing yesterday.

My guess is, they are not well equipped to be parents and probably shouldn't have had kids.

[JuniperLea]

25. Few of us are well equipped for a child with issues...

It's a hard life. But we don't know what the parents did or didn't do to help their son. We don't know what ideology the parents follow either. We don't know anything except they are saying how horrible they feel. I expect they would feel horrible regardless of any of the above.

[tblue37]

27. Actually, if Jared has serious mental health issues, it might have absolutely

nothing to do with how they parented him. Yes, they might have failed as parents, but then again, they might not have. We just don't kow. I know of a couple of families in which the parents were well suited to the responsibilities of parenthood, yet their kids suffered severe mental illness as young adults. One good friend's sister ended up a paranoid schizophrenic living on the streets. The family kept trying to help, but they were never able to reach through her illness to help her, no matter how hard they tried. The system does not allow them to commit her against her will--and even if it did, where would she go, and who would pay for it?

[JuniperLea]

16. They should have taken the advice of the experts...

When they were told their son needed professional help. THAT would have saved lives.

That said, going after them at this point makes everyone else as bad as the GOTP.

My heart goes out to them, but my head says... just be quiet for now and see how this whole thing pans out. There's just not enough information right now.

[coti]

19. I hope they're getting the support they need- maybe a social worker.

It's a crazy idea, but it may even help them for Obama to call them to offer some empathetic words, away from the media.

[luvspeas]

20. Quite honestly it's their neighbors that sound like idiots to me...

Maybe they don't talk to their neighbors because their neighbors are morons. It was one of their "nice" neighbors that allowed Faux into their backyard to snoop next door. That is what lead to the family putting up plywood on their porch and keeping out the FBI later.

I don't pray, but I am sending them hope, peace and understanding. Having a kid who does something this horrible is almost as bad as having a kid die. I've known parents that had to deal with their kids being murderers and rapists. It's really hard and really sad.

[handmade34]

23. pain all around

so sorry for them ;(

[alphafemale]

24. They lost their son forever on Saturday too.

And they will probably replay regrets and the "what if" game for the rest of their lives.

[kimi]

26. This

Yes, indeed.

"What ifs" consume so many parents. We'd like to think that our kids will all grow up to be responsible, kind citizens, but it doesn't happen that way some of the time.

They are hurting too.

[riverwalker]

29. they are suffering

I read the mother is unable to get out bed and they fear she is having a breakdown and may have to hospitalized. The father so grief stricken he cannot speak more than 3 words without bursting into tears. I hope the community will reach out and comfort them, support them. They need compassion.

[sabrina 1]

33. That is so sad. I wish I could give them a hug to let them know

that people feel for them also. Their statement is very simple and moving. The poor father had written it over the weekend but didn't know how to get it published. I can't imagine having to sit down, or even having the wherewithal to sit down to write such a statement to the country.

So many were ready to blame them.

In a way, I hope they both go the hospital for treatment. At least there they would be cared for.

[jody]

31. "It Takes A Village To Raise A Child" and WE are Jared Loughner's village. n/t

[handmade34]

32. oh....

I cry for our lost children

[felix_numinous]

34. The compassion shown here

-this is why I come to DU and why I associate with people on the left. These are the core values America needs.

[disillusioned73]

35. This is so sad..