58 Comments

• maloney | Jan 21, 2011, 07:12 PM EST

  The liberals want the right to start something so bad they can taste it. Only problem is they don't have the balls to back anything up. You think you can sick the law enforcement or the military on the conservatives. You forget most of the law & military are conservative & are waiting for you, the left to start it. Your Fusion Centers won't work either.

• FastEddy | Jan 19, 2011, 12:13 PM EST

  " This was a classic case of desperately wanting the facts to fit the desired outcome ... " ... This is also a classic case of the left leaning clueless fringe of the main stream media locking step with a few shrill media pundits.

• usetheforce | Jan 19, 2011, 11:18 AM EST

  holy brain farts, Mcglynn is an idiot. I used to live there too and it was no different than any other city with any other smear campaign. If you truly think that it was politically motivated, then I have some foil helmets you can buy so the gov doesnt hear your thoughts. I have a weather machine that i am selling...got it from the gov as well. also a few copies of documentaries from michael moore and his lies. Got the internet Al gore invented....anything else you are naive enough to believe???????

• usetheforce | Jan 19, 2011, 11:09 AM EST

  It figures liberals would jump the 'gun' on this. they've always been pansies.

• usetheforce | Jan 19, 2011, 11:08 AM EST

  hey daddymac, this article is spot on. Just because she is holding a gun doesnt mean she is out to hurt anyone. Have you ever heard of hunting? I laugh at liberals who point the finger at conservatives because a lot of us hunt and own guns. they will come in handy should those terrorists decide to invade our counry, ya think? where will you be when this happens? will you shout your peace lovin tree hugin slogans at them as they take you out? good luck with that.

• sully1167 | Jan 18, 2011, 06:23 AM EST

  A "Psycho is a "Psycho", It does not matter what his political views are. People should not think in terms of "Left Wing,or "Right Wing". They should think in a sense of what is right, and was it wrong.

• irishwxman | Jan 17, 2011, 09:55 PM EST

  I have to laugh. I'm reading all of these comments, and the liberal whack jobs just refuse to let go. You nuts are on your knees praying to St. Stephen to PLEASE give us another Oklahoma City. Please let there be a violent act by a tea partier so you all can say, "I told you so!!" You all are such hypocrites. I seem to recall when G.W. Bush was in the white house, all of those liberal morons outside calling for his murder! Nah...that's not violet vitriol at all is it? You idiots make me want to puke. This was your last hurrah. America sees you for who you really are now.

• irishwxman | Jan 17, 2011, 09:48 PM EST

  Some of those left wingers were right here on IC. About time this website put out a common sense article.

• jamieLM | Jan 17, 2011, 06:17 PM EST

  Any mentally unbalanced person who is determined to kill a lot of people will find a way to do it. This guy could've gone on the net and found out how to build a bomb, like McVeigh did, or he could've bought a gun illegally off the street, or he could've stolen one. These "nuts" have time on their hands to figure out a way to get a weapon, or make a "weapon," and to plan - how, when, & where - to kill people. These "headcases" have so many rights that it's not easy to get them into treatment if they don't want to go and haven't committed a crime.

• johnymac60 | Jan 17, 2011, 04:38 PM EST

  McGlynn, I was actually agreeing with you until you decided that if one does not live in Tuscon, one does not know what one is talking about. That's nonsense, of course. Folks can and do speak out and give opinions on many topics not having been present at the event. And as for Docsgirl; you better cover your head, lass. Ever read anything about the Blue-shirts? Actually, American politics makes me smile. Most Americans are calm and thoughtful folks. As in any other nation, it's the idiots and extremists on both sides that get overheated (in this case, over ridiculously similar parties.) The political parties, if they aligned with European political groups, would be virtually identical in ideology. In Europe, left wing and Right wing do not mean the same thing they mean in the US. And Sarah Palin? Nice looking. Big mouth. But why the vitriol against her alone? It's a bit much, really. To say she had a hand in this tragedy - that's just a load of cr_p.

• chesapeake | Jan 17, 2011, 01:46 PM EST

  Many of the death threats continue from the far left..at least one individual went to far that his threat landed him in jail. Such assinine behavior must be curtailed. No sane individual would or could have committed such a crime; and to vehemently blame the tea party or Rush Limbaugh or Sasah Palin is totslly unfair becaude the liberal press will take these unsubstatiated claims to the fore and our stupid 25% will always consider it as fact. For example, take the picture of Sarah Palin included with this article and many of the remarks preceding mine.

• DaddyMac22 | Jan 17, 2011, 09:35 AM EST

  How can you write this with a straight face considering the attached picture?

• broughshane | Jan 17, 2011, 09:06 AM EST

  Probably not!

• JohnE67 | Jan 17, 2011, 12:50 AM EST

  I see apologies coming from the Left as soon as they start from the Right...about 3 days after never. Palin is clown who could have taken the high road, yet chose to press her twisted agenda further by diverting blame and refusing to accept even a slight responsibility. This is not about politic, it is about mental illness and how a system that is has failed. There can be no greater call to socialize medicine then the fact that Loughner apparently did not have the proper care or supervision and was able to perpetrate this heinous, unfeeling and disgusting deed. Well maybe is is about politic...

• paulbrant | Jan 16, 2011, 11:46 PM EST

  Yes he's a nut but a slightly right-wing nut, and he took advantage of conservative Arizona's total lack of gun control laws. Sarah is NRA all the way, and a nut herself.

• Irishman63 | Jan 16, 2011, 11:05 PM EST

  I'd never say that I am ashamed to be Irish. Be they left wing or right wing you should always be proud of who you are and where you come from.

• Docsgirl | Jan 16, 2011, 09:41 PM EST

  I'm ashamed to say I'm Irish you are way too right winged.

• irishmoonfrog | Jan 16, 2011, 09:32 PM EST

  About time. Most of us righties want an orderly, crime-free and prosperous nation. We just hold it self-evident that less government and more personal responsibility are the way to get there. speaking of which, please note that the only crime which declines when guns are banned is gun crime. If it is important to you to be five times more likely to be assaulted with a knife rather than a gun, gun control laws make sense.

• Ajreaper | Jan 16, 2011, 09:13 PM EST

  "Violent crime continued to fall in 2009, even as gun sales reached an all-time high, according to statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)."According to the FBI, the number of violent crimes of all types declined in 2009 by 5.3 percent and property crimes declined 4.6 percent. In fact, the rate of violent crime declined 6.1 percent below 2008 figures" Studying crime trends in every county in the U.S., John Lott and David Mustard concluded, “allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons deters violent crimes. . . . [W]hen state concealed handgun laws went into effect in a county, murders fell by 8.5 percent, and rapes and aggravated assaults fell by 5 and 7 percent." "There is also not a single academic study that claims Right to Carry laws have increased state crime rates. The debate among academics has been over how large the benefits have been.” Dang reality sucks when it completely contradicts the garbage some people wish to spread.

• trspit80 | Jan 16, 2011, 08:59 PM EST

  Thank you, Mr. Farnan! Just when I'd purposed to opt out of receiving updates from Irish Central because of their blatant left tilt, you come along and spoil it all by being reasonable. Good on ya, sir. I will wait a short while longer before pulling the plug.

• McGlynn0704 | Jan 16, 2011, 06:26 PM EST

  I believe his main point is that he thinks the current level of vitriol is unaceppatable. If you are not a Tucson resident, you have no idea what you are talking about.

• JosephOCasey | Jan 16, 2011, 06:05 PM EST

  McGlynn, your beloved Sheriff put his foot in his mouth repeatedly. He was wrong as has been clearly shown. The shooter had zero ties to the Tea Party and was clearly not a right winger in any way. He should resign immediately for his conduct. The truth is that the most hateful rhetoric emanates from the left, lead by Keith Olbermann, Chris Mathews, Ed Schultz, Paul Krugman, Bill Press etc, etc.

• McGlynn0704 | Jan 16, 2011, 05:50 PM EST

  And one more thing-- Clarence Dupnik is the only person around these parts--Tucson-- who speaks the TRUTH.

• McGlynn0704 | Jan 16, 2011, 05:46 PM EST

  I am a resident of Tucson and witnessed first hand what went on in ths community during the last election, which was in November 2010. The Tea Party poured millions of dollars into trying to defeat Congresswoman Giffords. Her opponent, Jesse Kelly held campaign events entitled "come practice shooting an AK-47 as we target Gabrielle Giffords". The whole town was covered in signs with horribly negative smears against Giffords. Kelly supporters not only broke Giffords office windows, but also broke the windshields of cars displaying Giffords bumper stckers--not to mention spray painting the cars. I have heard about Germany in 1934 and the parallels are obvious. So whether or not this particular nut case is directly attributable to it, I was surprised that it took until January

• RobinOCork | Jan 16, 2011, 05:36 PM EST

  Sorry, Ed, but you will wait for those apologies and amends till the UFOs land and the Flat Earth Society is proved right, after all. Just as important to an angry, accusing person (of any political or religious stripe) as insulting the other side with ad hominem arguments, is the unthinkable premise of ever having to retract or rethink their views. You can almost define a crazy by their unwillingness to reconsider. And doesn't that put us all in an environment with a lot of very suspect people?! ;>)

• longtimer | Jan 16, 2011, 05:22 PM EST

  our society is becoming such that those with the maturity and skill to carry and use firearms have a social responsibility to do so.. there was one licensed weapons carrying person near the shooting.. but he was too fearful to intervene

• TheOldPerfessor | Jan 16, 2011, 04:40 PM EST

  Apologies to ajreaper, but if you look at the statistical report put out by the Arizona department of health services you will find that between the years of 2001 and 2008 there are always at least 300 murders by gunshot. I, unfortunately read the line for total homicides (old perfessors don't have the best vision). In all, slainte is right that Arizonans could go to Northern Ireland to get away from all that violence.

• Ajreaper | Jan 16, 2011, 04:39 PM EST

  Ya secondthought so during the troubles with the military and police forces in N.I. working to stop the movement of arms into N.I. and working to secure those already in N.I. and catching those folks using them, let me ask you- how did that work out? I must assume assualt weapons and explosives were legal because surely if they were not all that violence would have just stopped. If people or groups of people are determined to use violence they will obtain that which they need regardless of the law. There are all manner of things governments and society have decided it's not legal to manufacture, sell or purchase- name one that's no longer available.

• plasticpaddy | Jan 16, 2011, 04:23 PM EST

  In fairness, it seems like right-wingers had nothing to do with this murder. I am still opposed to their fiery rhetoric, mostly as it will eventually be used by someone as a reason to commit violent crime but there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that this guy committed the murders because of any right-wing sympathies.

• secondthought | Jan 16, 2011, 03:48 PM EST

  Whew, what a relief. Thought for a minute I might have to give up painting crosshairs on people and threatening "2nd amendment solutions" Thanks for pointing out how one wacko with his own agenda invalidates the whole argument for civility and tolerance. Evil liberal oppressive media is so quick to make an issue out of our God-given right to imply threats to peoples lives. Thank Jesus that we can all go back to implying the politicians we don't like should be murdered. Whether the gunman be liberal, conservative, or just bats**t (as in this case) at least we can all agree it is always Obama's fault. Nice point Ajreaper, the deathrate is only 8 times as high, not 16 like the perfesser said (in this one year), so shut up liberal volvo-driving pansies. Clearly guns do keep us safe, and stimulate our brilliant political dialog.

• Ajreaper | Jan 16, 2011, 03:26 PM EST

  Perfessor your either a straight up liar or a complete dolt- in 2009 AZ. had 197 firearm murders. Less then half the number you say occurs regularly and no where near 500. You can choose which it is- liar or dolt.

• Twilight821 | Jan 16, 2011, 03:25 PM EST

  The truth is the Palin video was a message to republicans and right-wingers that shes pissed off cause she took the heat for all the negative, ballistic rhetoric, she and they, dished out -- an unhealthy individual took the bait; her posse hung her out to dry. Now they want to pack guns cause they're afraid of each other and Pistol Palin.

• vincem13 | Jan 16, 2011, 03:21 PM EST

  Specifically, where is the apology and retraction by "Irish Central" calumnist, Patrick Roberts?

• GeorgeDillon | Jan 16, 2011, 02:54 PM EST

  longislander: Your post is short but full of sense. The fact that this loon could buy gun & ammo at Wal-Mart does suggest that Arizona needs to tighten up. Any intelligent Wal-mark clerk must have seen that his guy was off the wall. But for some people to say that this idiot was influenced by listening to Limbaugh & Beck (neither of whom I like, by the way) is as moronic as the shooter himself.

• Dompedro | Jan 16, 2011, 02:33 PM EST

  For slainte9's edification, a gun carrying Tucsonan was leaving the supermarket as the shootings occurred and seriously considered drawing his weapon. He observed, however, that the automatic that was being waved around had the magazine removed and posed no additional threat. He did not draw his weapon ... Could slainte9 have done as well? And, does kerryknorpp presume that El Sharif Dupnik was also talking about MSNBC?

• jamthecat | Jan 16, 2011, 02:30 PM EST

  Let's see -- 2 years of vicious hatred, lies, screams about Obama and the left trying to destroy this country, Democrats being responsible for everything that's gone wrong, Health Care Reform having "death panels", threats, actual violence, several murders committed in the name of right wing beliefs, cops killed by radical right-wing-nuts, others actually trying to kill liberals, Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh spouting their made up lies, Fox News spouting its made up "facts", Sarah Palin's hit list with Gabrielle Giffords under sniper scopes (then lying about it), people bringing guns to political rallies and GOP LEADERS (!!!) calling for armed insurrection or secession from the US if things don't go their way -- none of that matters. An anti-government wacko murders six people while trying to kill a US Congressperson, and suddenly we ALL have to withhold judgment until all the facts are out there. May I ask when the Right Wing has ever done that? Is it a case of it's okay to rush to judgment when you're a Republican but not okay to do so when you're a Democrat? Will the GOP and Tea Party apologize for the bile and threats they've been spewing for years? Or do you also think it's just the Democrats who are to blame for everything that ever went wrong in the history of the universe? I'm also waiting for an answer. Somehow I doubt it will come; hypocrites rarely apologize for their hypocrisy.

• TheOldPerfessor | Jan 16, 2011, 01:51 PM EST

  Since AJreaper brought up the question, it's true that slainte's numbers were a bit off. According to a statistical report in the United Kingdom Home Office reporting on gun violence in Northern Ireland, the rate in 2008/9 was 1.59 deaths per hundred thousand. Given that their population is 1.6 million, that comes to about 25 people per year. Arizona consistently has more than 400 gun homicides per year - usually closer to 500. Those are the facts. As Casey Stengel said, "You can look it up." Or, you can just call people names. Your choice.

• miketheminer | Jan 16, 2011, 01:30 PM EST

  Right ON! Ed Farnan! About time someone spoke up with the truth. Sheriff Dupnick was of the "opinion" that Palin and the tea party and talk radio had whipped up folks so much so as to endanger Congresswoman Giffords safety. He was so sure of this that he allowed it to be broadcast nationally. (and the mainstream media jumped at the chance to expound on it) Yet he failed to send a single deputy to watch over the event? Time to retire Sheriff!

• brianc2221 | Jan 16, 2011, 01:12 PM EST

  The only way Sherriff Clarence "the Clown" Dupnik will be ready for prime time is if Mayberry RFD goes back into production. He can be cast as Barney Fife. If anyone is pleased about the Tucson shootings, it's the Democrats. They have been openly talking about the need for an "Oklahoma City" event so Obama coulkd reconnect with the voters.

• longislander1940 | Jan 16, 2011, 12:44 PM EST

  The only one to blame is the shooter He is a whacko and unfortunately he was able to walk the streets and buy a gun. This is where the gun law should be changed. The bad guys will always be able to get a gun on te street.

• Ajreaper | Jan 16, 2011, 12:03 PM EST

  Lord finally a bit of logic about this unfortunate tragedy last week in Tucson. Slainte, where did you get the statistics saying the whole of NI is 10x safer then AZ? Or are you just making something up (sorta like what the article is all about)? Joeboy do you reading comprehension problems? The tea party had absolutely nothing to do with the actions of the gunman- NOTHING.

• allentown | Jan 16, 2011, 11:57 AM EST

  I am among those posters that is shocked that Irish Central would permit a factual article to be posted. The American voters now know that those who speak for the left are all yearning to blame Sarah Palin and the Tea Party for all nut cake violence in our country.

• Patte58 | Jan 16, 2011, 11:52 AM EST

  What else is new with our main stream media? Well put, Mr. Farnan! Whenever a tragedy happens, people want to point the finger at someone so as not to take responsibility. This "rush to judgement" needs to stop. As long as there is an agenda with our media, an apology will never be heard. Don't hold your breath waiting for this one.

• PhlutiePhan | Jan 16, 2011, 11:47 AM EST

  Very good article. I am a middle of the road conservative. I am not happy with Palin. However, it is obvious that the current administration is radical left wing and socialist. The current "hiding behind" the coattails of Bill Clinton is just that, a move to obfuscate his real intentions.

• cillowen | Jan 16, 2011, 11:45 AM EST

  wingnuttery is in full swing = toilet.

• jdi2269 | Jan 16, 2011, 11:45 AM EST

  FINALLY AN ACCURATE STORY FROM I.C.

• kevinhayes | Jan 16, 2011, 11:21 AM EST

  Keep on waiting, dude. The fact remains that the right's vitriol and support of absurd gun laws created the climate and the means for this and many other tragedies.

• slainte9 | Jan 16, 2011, 11:06 AM EST

  Too many guns. Too many guns in the wrong hands. Why is Northern Ireland 10 times safer than Arizona, and most of urban America? They got serious about their violence problem and put the weapons beyond use. Sarah Palin and the gun lobby didn't incite the Tucson shooter, but they're guilty as the devil for him having access to a gun, and one with a 18 round magazine no less. Gun nuts say an armed society is a safe society. In a state where over a third of the citizens, including Giffords, own guns, over 150 people witnessed the Tucson shooting and not one managed to draw their pistol and fire back at the killer. If they can stop the killing in Northern Ireland, why can't we stop in America.

• joeboy1 | Jan 16, 2011, 11:06 AM EST

  i knew it all those crazy ass gun toking tea party nut bag,s every time i see them i just shake we need to put them all in GITMO they are just so scary!!!!!! thank,s Mr. Farnan for a truefull article

• seamusmoore | Jan 16, 2011, 10:48 AM EST

  How in the name of god did Mr.Farnan get Niall O'Dowd to publish his op-ed piece. A fellow New Yorker once described the Niall's newspaper the Irish Voice as "Pravda on the Hudson".

• seagreen | Jan 16, 2011, 10:42 AM EST

  All of you right wingers can pull up your pants, get your hand out of the cookie jar, and put a mask over your face to cover the reddness. You are all actually happy at what happened, because this guy carried out the directorates of the message senders. (secretly , you are all smiling)Surveyor targets! Yeah right.. The cat is out of the bag no matter how you warp and mispeak (lie), it is all a matter of record.. The sheriff told the truth, which is something that "you dogs that cannot stop eating" do not want to hear, or refuse to hear. Yes, American military veterans are suspect, because of their familiarity with and ability to use weapons. It is a common topic at law enforcement seminars.. So watch your football games, and check your stocks. Everything will be just fine!.....

• TheOldPerfessor | Jan 16, 2011, 10:32 AM EST

  No doubt Colkelley joins with me in opposition to the right wing interest in repealing the 14th amendment. No doubt he was also concerned about George W. Bush's tactics in reading his and my emails in a fishing expecdition to "keep us safe from terrorists."

• tldoran | Jan 16, 2011, 09:58 AM EST

  So, Mr Farnan, are you arguing that the rhetoric of talk radio is a positive contribution to anything? Just labeling critics of Palin as "left wing" is a continuation of this nastiness. Polls indicate that it is Republicans who will deny Palin higher office.

• mlpowner | Jan 16, 2011, 09:49 AM EST

  You're right on target! Oops, it's probably not pc to use the term 'target'. The attempt by politicians - starting with Sheriff Dupnik - to use this tragedy to halt the popular uprising that is underway is shameful. The collaboration from mainstream media is worse however and undermines our democracy. There is no longer an independent media working to uncover the truth on behalf of the people...thank God for the internet.

• colkelley | Jan 16, 2011, 09:48 AM EST

  This goes along with Homeland Security labeling American veterans as a "potential threat." Since we veterans took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution (which is a lifetime commitment) we could be view as a "potential threat" to those intending to overthrow the Constitution. Only politicians whose intent is to meddle with the Constitution would classify us as a "potential threat."

• kerryknorpp | Jan 16, 2011, 09:45 AM EST

  Sheriff Dupnik is clearly more ready for prime time than the writer of this Op Ed. The Sheriff made no accusation of SP or the Tea Baggers, but simply stated his opinion about the inflamatory retoric we have been subjected to by certain groups. Millions of Americans happen to agree with the Sheriff. Why would you attempt to attack the messenger of the call to civility?? There should be no apology to SP, who will soon sink below the surface of reasonable discourse, weighted down by her own sad incompetence.

• Irishphotograph | Jan 16, 2011, 09:43 AM EST

  Palin and the Tea Party are antagonists!

• GeorgeDillon | Jan 16, 2011, 09:39 AM EST

  Good article. About time we got some sense on this site. Columnist Roberts should be fired for consistently pumping out falsehoods. Then again I guess they don't him here, so it would be hard to fire him.