WASHINGTON - A Georgia Republican on Monday criticized Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik for linking Saturday's shooting in Arizona with hostile political rhetoric.
Rep. Jack Kingston of Savannah said there is no evidence the shooting was politically motivated. Instead, it simply looks like the work of a deranged gunman, he said.
"I don't see any link whatsoever at this point between vitriolic discourse and someone plowing down his fellow citizens," Kingston said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "I think frankly it's irresponsible of the sheriff to say that."
Kingston also questioned whether Dupnik might have missed signs that the suspect in the shooting, Jared Loughner, would engage in violence given Loughner's history of suspicious behavior.
"This incident happened under the jurisdiction of the local police," he said. "If the local jurisdiction knew about this guy, there's a question to me of this sheriff who's so quick to condemn vitriolic political discourse ... how come he missed it?"
Dupnik suggested over the weekend that hostile political rhetoric may have played a role in the tragedy, questioning how unbalanced people respond to "the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government."
Kingston, a 10-term congressman, said he agrees that political leaders shouldn't be inflaming divisions and instigating hostility. But he also said contentious discourse is healthy for democracy, and he cautioned against new congressional security measures that might separate lawmakers from constituents.
He said members of Congress have always contended with hostile constituents, most of whom are harmless.
"I just don't know how you can look at these people and figure out which one of these nuts is harmful and which ones aren't," he said. "It's healthy for the system to let people vent, let them go to the town meeting and raise hell."
Kingston said local law enforcement agencies are responsible for security at district events and, in his experience, are usually happy to provide officers when asked.
lovethelord posted at 4:46 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
i cannot believe that your paper will not let me post because i mentined the lords name, thts whats wrong with our society and i will never read your paper again
EmperorSmith posted at 6:12 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
I tried to reference Moby D--- once so don't feel alone.
rrjenn posted at 7:02 pm on Mon, Jan 10, 2011.
lol you azzwhipes are too too funny. A short, slender, sharp-pointed metal pin with a raised helical thread running around it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated in under pressure the both of you!
smarter1 posted at 10:22 am on Tue, Jan 11, 2011.
This sheriff's comments in response to the tragic incident shows a lack of discrimination in regard to his position of authority in choosing to express his own agenda rather than the matter at hand to the media. Law enforcement has been stressed to the max this past year, but it does not excuse the poor timing to express his personal opinions to the nation using his position. On behalf of most Arizonans, I apologize for his guffaw and the furror that it has ignited. Perhaps he feels too burned out and ought to retire?