I was shocked to hear Pima County Sheriff Dupnik giving vent to his anti-SB 1070 political views while being interviewed about the tragic shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. It should disgust every Arizona citizen to hear Dupnik say on national television that "we have become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry."
There is nothing in the shooter's web pages that have been found to prove that he was for or against SB 1070, the tea party or anything political. He seems to have been upset about illiteracy and government brainwashing and mind control and suffered mental problems going back for years and years. He also wanted to print new American currency for some strange reason.
I also saw on the TV news one reporter interview another reporter after the governor spoke who also intimated that the cause of this shooting were the Arizona anti-illegal immigration and pro-gun laws without a shred of evidence for his opinion. The reporter's views and Sheriff Dupnik's words show that the liberal/left is just as "vitriolic" as the conservative/right. Sheriff Dupnik's views also prove that Congressman Grijalva's call for a boycott of Arizona tourism wasn't just a one-time "below the belt" aberration of Tucson politics.
Let's hope that there are no further tragic events in Tucson that will give its powers-that-be another pulpit to trash the reputation of the great state of Arizona that we live in.
Leon Ceniceros, Mesa
Carolyn posted at 2:54 pm on Sun, Jan 9, 2011.
No, Leon, it isn't just political rhetoric. I, too, am from Mesa, and what the Sheriff of Pima County said was PROFOUND, and truthful. The tea partiers and ultra-right-wingers in this state have promoted hatred, and the TV personalities (like Beck), radio personalities (like Limbaugh), and IDIOTS (like Palin) have influenced the unbalanced among them....and the shooting in Tucson is the result of that. More people need to speak up as Sheriff Dupnik has done...Arizona has been embarrassed enough by the conservatives running this state.
lehi posted at 3:35 pm on Sun, Jan 9, 2011.
Sheriff of Pima Co knows more about violent crime and the border situation than Leon does. AZ went from being the laughing stock of the nation (Gov DUI Brewer slurring her words, brain freezes, etc) to becoming the US crazy woman in the attic. Now the whole world knows AZ is home to pathetic right wing gun nuts who act out their fear fantasies with real guns that they can buy and carry with no permit, no training. No business wants to come here -- no health care for their workers, and guns in bars, in community colleges, etc. Tourists aren't coming. Our house in Mesa is going down in value again this month.
Pres. Obama's health care bill has already started saving millions for small businesses -- and the working people.
The only reason AZ is so afraid -- Pres. Obama is African-American. Period.
Recent studies show righ wing conservatives have enlarged fear response centers in their brains. So sad -- to live in fear like they do. Pathetic. Thank you, Sheriff! You tell it like it is.
aaarrrggghhh posted at 4:19 pm on Sun, Jan 9, 2011.
Leon, you sound like one of those folks that the Sheriff said needs to do some soul-searching. And do you even live in Arizona? This state, unfortunately, IS filled with hate-mongers, and the ignorance they feed on.
Dale Whiting posted at 4:45 pm on Sun, Jan 9, 2011.
Does anyone know Sheriff Dupnik's party affiliation? Facts people, get the facts, before you vent your prejudices.
Dupnik does owe two groups profound appologies. The first group is Arizonans. Is it unfair to say that Arizona has become a stomping ground for bigots and racists? Surely Dupnik can say that during his time in office he has seen more bigotry and racism than ever before. But can he say that Arizona leads the pack of bigotry and racism? No. He has no means to make such a comparison. Appology is due, Dupnik!
Second, where Mecca is a destination for peace loving people of faith, can Dupnik fairly compare Arizona to Mecca as a destination location for worship? No.
It is clear to see that Dupnik has his own set of problems with bigotry and irresponsible miscategorization.
Shame on you Sheriff Dupnik. And shame on many of you above who also missed these two points. Get the facts first. Them form an opinion. Otherwise your opinions are weak and only expose your prejudices, i.e. judgements not based upon fact.
LinMesa posted at 5:53 pm on Sun, Jan 9, 2011.
The truth can really hurt, can't it? It's so nice to know that there are still people like Sheriff Dupnik who exhibit common sense.
Mike McClellan posted at 5:59 pm on Sun, Jan 9, 2011.
Mr. Whiting, if, like Sheriff Dupnik, your friend had received multiple death threats and had her office door shot out because she voted for health care reform, if you had watched your friend subjected to all kinds of invective during her reelection campaign, and then you saw her and another friend shot, maybe you'd question the tone of our discourse, too.
And point of clarification, Mr. Whiting: The word "mecca" means more than a destination for worship. For you to suggest the Sheriff is smearing a religion is disingenuous.
Slabside posted at 6:34 pm on Sun, Jan 9, 2011.
Leon, you are correct with your letter. Lehi, Carolyn and Dale are all for illegal's rights over American's rights and they bash Brewer and Arpaio any chance they get. All they are doing is displaying their position on the IQ map.
onerebel posted at 8:33 pm on Tue, Jan 11, 2011.
Apparently Liberals think it's OK to use any situation to push their agenda, Just tonight on MSNBC they were talking about how Obama can use this tragedy to help him politically. You have the right to express your opinion, what most ethical people would say is, That was not the time or the place for a Sheriff that is suppose to be conducting an unbiased investigation. Now this supposedly hate filled right winger will just sit back and let my Liberal friends show me how they always post peaceful and loving responses because I know they wouldn't be hypocrites !