In the wake of the weekend shooting of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at a constituent rally and the deaths of several of the event's attendees, House Speaker John Boehner has postponed the scheduled vote to repeal the health care reform law.
"An attack on one who serves is an attack on all who serve," said the Ohio Republican in a statement announcing the legislative delay. "Such acts of violence have no place in our society. I want to commend the federal, state and local officials, as well as the Capitol Police, for all of their efforts. And I've told the FBI Director that the House stands ready to assist in any way possible."
In addition to the vote on the health care law, an issue that Giffords supported, Boehner said that the rest of the House's business this week has been postponed "so that we can take necessary action" regarding the tragic events in Tucson.
President obama will lead a national moment of silence at 11 a.m. Eastern time today to mourn the six people killed in the attack, as well as the 14 others who were wounded.
The alleged shooter, Jared Lee Loughner also is scheduled to be arraigned today in an Arizona federal courtroom on one count of attempted assassination of a member of Congress, two counts of killing an employee of the United States and two counts of intent to kill employees of the United States.
State charges are also expected to be filed against Loughner.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the friends and families who lost loved ones in this tragic event.
I'm also praying that somehow we as Americans can reclaim some sanity and decency and deal with different points of view in a more civilized manner, for the sake of not only those who died in the Tucson shooting spree, but for all those they left behind.
