(Image Source: The New York Times)
BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS
One year since tragedy in Tucson. It was an event that grabbed the nation’s sympathy for weeks on end. A shooting spree at a public event for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords quickly changed the lives of several and became one of the biggest stories of the year.
ABC sums it up.
“The numbers tell part of the story. One lunatic with a gun firing 31 rounds in six seconds leaving six people dead, including a nine-year-old girl.”
The one-year anniversary of the tragedy is being marked with a weekend of events -- including a candlelight vigil at the Tucson Safeway where accused gunman Jared Loughner attacked. (Video Source: CNN)
Daniel Hernandez, the intern who first aided Gifford after she was shot - tells Fox- things need to change.
ALISYN CAMEROTA: “You say that the biggest thing for yourself and other victims you’ve spoken to is making sure that you prevent another Loughner from happening. How do you do that?”
DANIEL HERNANDEZ: “Yeah. Well I think the biggest thing is addressing some of the stigma around mental health issues. One of the things that was really a failure that allowed this case to happen wasn’t any legislation. It was the failure in the health care system. Not giving him the proper treatment. Not reporting him to the authorities who could’ve prevented him from... who could’ve assisted him in getting the medication he needed.”
According to the Telegraph, 23-year-old Loughner was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was found to have disordered thinking and delusions. Now, his fate is in question as he awaits trial in a federal prison in Springfield, Missouri.
“An appellate court is currently weighing whether to uphold or reverse a federal judge's decision giving doctors four more months to restore [Loughner] to competency. Also at issue is whether the doctors can continue to force antipsychotic medication on Loughner...”
The congresswoman, Loughner’s intended target, suffered a severe brain injury. But now, one year later, her recovery’s being called miraculous. According to the Huffington Post...
“The 41-year-old Giffords has spent the last year in Houston undergoing intensive physical and speech therapy. … she is able to walk and talk, vote in Congress and gave a televised interview to ABC's Diane Sawyer in May. But doctors have said it would take many months to determine the lasting effects of her brain injury.”
Loughner’s not the only one unsure of his future. Giffords’ decision to campaign for re-election is still up in the air. But Politico’s Jonathan Allen suggests- she’s in a good position for a run.
“Fundraising help from House Democratic leaders and close friends... helped put more than $900,000 in Giffords’s campaign treasury through the first nine months of 2011. She could also expect to get a lot of free media if she hit the campaign trail again, instantly becoming an irresistible story for reporters in the state and around the country.”
Giffords has until May to decide if she wants to be on the November ballot.
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