Reaction to attack on Gabrielle Giffords

Brewer was at the Capitol on Saturday working with aides to prepare for her State of the State address to the Legislature on Monday when they received word of the shooting.

Brewer says the speech preparations stopped, and she later addressed reporters after speaking with Obama by telephone.

Brewer says she anticipates that security arrangements for public officials could be tightened as a result of the shooting.

Spokesman Paul Senseman says arrangements for Monday's State of the State will be reviewed. But he says "nothing has changed" when pressed whether Brewer would still make the address.

ARIZONA HOUSE SPEAKER KIRK ADAMS:

"Today we experienced a horrible act of violence in our state, the details of which we are still trying to process. My deepest prayers, as well as those of my colleagues, go out to Congresswoman Giffords, her family and today’s other victims at this tragic time. We are all hoping for the best outcome and anxious to see the congresswoman and other victims recover.”

ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE KEN BENNETT:

“Today’s attack upon Congresswoman Giffords, staff and others attending her event in Tucson was senseless and vile. There is no twisted logic to explain this shooting, nor is there any justification. We have no room for violence in our political culture.

“I served with Congresswoman Giffords for four years in the Arizona State Senate. She is a gifted leader with a bright future. I pray for her full recovery, and for the recovery of others injured in today’s horrific shooting. For the loved ones of those killed, I can only offer the deepest condolences of myself and my family. This is a tragic day for Arizona.”

ARIZONA SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE REBECCA WHITE BERCH:

"This is a sad and tragic day for the judiciary, our state, and our country.  The shocking events that took place this morning deeply grieve those of us in the Arizona Judiciary. Initial reports indicate that, along with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and many members of her staff, Chief Judge John M. Roll of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona is a victim of this tragedy and we are deeply saddened that a member of our sister judicial system, a kind man, a wise and fair jurist, and a friend to many within the legal community, has been harmed by this senseless act of violence. Our thoughts and prayers go to all of those affected by today’s shooting."

NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL SPEAKER LAWRENCE T. MORGAN:

“I send my prayers to the family of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, as well as my condolences to the families of her staff aides and the innocent bystanders that lost their lives,” Morgan said. “I am shocked and horrified. This incident affects all lawmakers on many levels because senseless incidents can happen any given time, including on the Navajo Nation.

“We appreciate all the efforts of Congresswoman Giffords who has advocated for the Navajo Nation on various issues,” added Morgan. “On behalf of the Navajo Nation Legislative Branch and 21st Navajo Nation Council, we send our prayers.”

U.S. REP. BEN QUAYLE:

"I am deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic shooting incident this morning in Tucson.  My thoughts and prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords and her family and the other victims and their families."

U.S. REP. PAUL GOSAR:

“Today our thoughts and prayers are with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, her family, her staff, and those injured in this horrible tragedy.  Gabrielle is a selfless public servant and we are all praying for her.”

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN TIM KAINE:

"The terrible act of violence in Arizona has left us all aghast.  It is a sad day for America and our thoughts and prayers are with Rep. Giffords and all the victims of this tragedy.

"The facts of this criminal act are still to be determined, but we thoroughly condemn what happened in Arizona today. We must all reaffirm that there is no place in our country for violent attacks of this kind on public servants or any citizen for any reason.

"I know that I speak for our entire Democratic family in saying that my heart goes out to the victims of today's shooting and to the families of those who have perished as a result of this act of violence. My prayers continue to be with those who have suffered from and are responding to today's tragic event in Arizona."

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA PRESIDENT ROBERT SHELTON:

"This afternoon our thoughts and prayers are with Representative Giffords and her family in the aftermath of this unspeakable tragedy. 

"Gabrielle Giffords cares about her community and her country in a way that is unique. She has been a tremendous friend of the University of Arizona, and in her two terms has worked tirelessly on behalf of education. She has always been a voice of moderation, which makes this shooting even more difficult to comprehend.

"We are confident that she is getting the best care possible at UMC, and we join with the entire community in praying for a full recovery.  At the same time, we extend our sympathies to the families of those who were killed or injured in this terrible tragedy."

ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL TOM HORNE:

"I am devastated to hear about the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others.  Gabby served in the Legislature while I served as Superintendent of Public Instruction and we worked together well even though we were of opposite parties.  She was very amiable and easy to get along with.  The initial responsibility for bringing justice is to local law enforcement, but my liaison Gerald Richard told the Tucson Chief of Police we will do anything to help.

"To the extent the Attorney General has an appropriate role to play we will devote the necessary resources to help see to it that justice is done swiftly."

ARIZONA SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION JOHN HUPPENTHAL:

“Today is a tragic day for Congressional District 8, Arizona and the nation. I am deeply saddened and mortified by the senseless act of violence committed against Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Chief Justice John Roll and all victims of this horrific shooting. My prayers are with Congresswoman Giffords, her family, her staff, and all those who lost their lives or were injured in this horrific crime,” said Superintendent Huppenthal.
“Serving alongside Gabrielle Giffords in the Arizona Senate, I remember, firsthand, her strong commitment to upholding justice tempered with a gentle compassion for helping people. Acts and threats of violence against those who nobly take up the call to serve have no place in a free society. May the perpetrator of this heinous violence be brought to swift justice and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DENNIS VAN ROEKEL:

Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association, who taught for 23 years in Arizona, on today’s shooting in Tucson:

"On behalf of all the members of the National Education Association, I wish to express my deep concern about the attack on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. We know that she is under the best of care and is surrounded by the love from her family. The NEA and Arizona Education Association join with the heartfelt support of her community in wishing her a speedy and complete recovery. Rep. Giffords is a dedicated public servant and has made outstanding contributions to Arizona.

"We are horrified by the tragedy that has taken the lives of six people and wounded others as a result of this attack. Nothing can be more difficult or deserving of more support, and our prayers are with the family and friends."

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN:

"The horrific attack in Tucson, Arizona, this morning has taken the lives of at least five people, including a federal judge and a young girl, and left many others wounded, among them a dear friend, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

"Gabby is one of the finest members of Congress I know. She is a principled leader and a consensus-builder. She has spent her time in office working her heart out to improve the lives of the people she represents. And she loves her husband and family above all else. On this tragic day, Jill and I are praying for Gabby’s recovery, and we hold her family in our hearts.

"Chief Judge John Roll was a dedicated jurist whose death is a terrible loss to Arizona and to the country.

"We do not yet know the motivation behind these shootings. But what we do know is that there is simply no justification, no rationale for such senseless and appalling violence in our society.

"Please join Jill and me in praying for each of today’s victims and for their families and loved ones."

ARIZONA SENATE PRESIDENT RUSSELL PEARCE:

“I am shocked and saddened by the shooting this morning in Tucson. My heart goes out to the families of the victims.

“I worked alongside Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in the Arizona Legislature.  Although of different parties she was a fine colleague, a great lady and is an outstanding public servant.  I am saying prayers for Gabby, her husband and her family and for all the victims and families and pray for full recoveries.

“I learned about the shooting as we gathered with Republicans from all over Maricopa County for our organizational meeting.  We immediately suspended all activities and we had a moment of silence for all of the victims and prayed for the families of those who died or were injured in this senseless act. This is an attack on everything we stand for.  Some of these families will never recover and will be victims for the rest of their lives.

“Violence has no place in politics in Arizona or America. This is a very sad day for our state.” 

U.S. LABOR SECRETARY HILDA SOLIS:

“My thoughts and prayers are with my friend and former colleague, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and all of the victims of this terrible, senseless act of violence.

“I met Gabby before she entered Congress and had the pleasure of serving with her in the House of Representatives.  I have seen Gabby at her very best — doing what she does best — when I was with her and Rep. Raul Grijalva in Tucson last year participating in an event celebrating our nation’s veterans.  She is deeply committed to her constituents and her country, and I’m hopeful she’ll recover from this senseless act.

“As President Obama noted, this is an unspeakable tragedy.  As the facts from this situation unfold, I ask that all Americans keep the victims of this tragedy, and their families, in their thoughts and prayers.”

U.S. SEN. JON KYL:

"Congresswoman Giffords is a good friend, and I find it especially saddening that such a heinous crime would occur while she was fulfilling her congressional responsibilities. All of us will work to ensure that justice will be served fully and swiftly."

TEA PARTY EXPRESS CHAIRMAN AMY KREMER:

"We at the Tea Party Express are shocked and saddened to hear about the terrible tragedy that took place in Tucson today. It is appalling that anyone would commit such unthinkable violence against Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford, her staff, a sitting federal judge and the many other victims and families impacted.

U.S. SEN. HARRY REID:

"This is a sad day for our country, and acts of senseless violence such as this one affect us all. Congresswoman Giffords is one of our most dynamic members of Congress. As a representative of a neighboring state, I have watched her career closely and admired her work on behalf of the state of Arizona."

U.S. REP. NANCY PELOSI:

"Congresswoman Giffords is a strong fighter, and the news, as it goes by in the day, has improved in terms of her condition. We are all very prayerful as we learn more."

FORMER ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL TERRY GODDARD:

"The tragic events in Tucson join us in anguish. Gabby is a close friend to so many of us, making this attack so hard to understand, but an attack on a public official while she was doing the public's business, as she was yesterday morning, is an unspeakable tragedy for our democracy.  We pray now for Congresswoman Gifford's full recovery and for the other survivors of the attack. We morn the six who died, including U.S. District Court Judge John Roll, who was himself a prominent target of threats of violence. Today's horror will be discussed and debated for years, but for today let's focus on supporting the victims with our thoughts and prayers. Que Dios nos bendiga."