AZ Tragedy: Pray for the Victims and Their Families and Our Country

Saturday January 8, 2011. What a tragic and sad day for Arizona and America. The senseless deaths and injuries in the attack upon Congresswoman Gabby Gifford’s are truly a horrifying reality of the mindset or insanity of the people of today in this wicked world. In Tucson, Arizona at least 18 people were shot, and among those who died were U.S. District Judge John Roll and 9-year-old Christina Green. 40 year old Congresswoman Gabby Gifford of AZ sustained a bullet wound to the head and is in critical condition. The survival rate of a gunshot to the head is approximately 5%. If she survives it will be months before they can tell the severity of the damage caused, though she is showing some ability to communicate which is a favorable sign.

Gabby Gifford is married to space shuttle astronaut Mark Kelly. Her wedding ring is inscribe with the message “”You’re the closest to heaven that I’ve ever been”.

I am very saddened by this tragedy and my heart goes out to the many victims and their families of this horrible incident.  Many have died, others are at this moment struggling for life, others wounded physically or just emotionally in this tragedy. They deserve our prayers, empathy and support. This is truly a sad time that Americans should be treated as such, putting all politics aside. Many people lost their lives and others are still struggling for theirs. The killer has no justification for his actions no matter what they were. He has only shown that he is one of the wicked that will be cast in the fire. Any Christian person should only see sadness in this incident.

A face of one of the innocent victims

Nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green was one of the victims of this tragedy she was fatally shot after her neighbors invited her to go along to this political advent. Her neighbor was reportedly shot 4 times and is fighting their life at this time. Christina had just been elected to the student council at her school. The event was an opportunity for constituents to meet Ms. Gifford. Christina, who was reportedly shot in the chest, had been featured in a book Faces of Hope: Babies born on 9/11. What an ironic mischance for this little girl to be born on such a tragic historic day as 911 and to die amidst another horrific American tragedy. Her little life was lived in between the bookends of these two such historic tragedies. She was the daughter of Dodgers scout John Greene, and granddaughter of former Phillies pitcher and manager Dallas Greene who was the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies when they won the World Series in 1980.

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt released a statement:

“We lost a member of the Dodgers family today. The entire Dodgers organization is mourning the death of John’s daughter Christina, and will do everything we can to support John, his wife Roxana and their son Dallas in the aftermath of this senseless tragedy. I spoke with John earlier today and expressed condolences on behalf of the entire Dodgers organization.”

For more on the story of Christina Taylor Green you can go to LINK

Such a young life taken for what? One man’s hatred and inability to control his personal demons? There is no excuse for this hideous tragedy. I feel sorrow for his family and his soul.

Other victims include, approximately 20 people in total shot. Those that have passed away from their injuries at this time are John Roll age 63 a federal judge, Gabe Zimmeramn age 30 a staff member of Congresswoman Gabby Gifford and engaged to be married, Dorthy Morris age 76, Phyllis Scheck age 79, and Dorwin Stoddard age 76 who it is said was shot in the head when he threw himself on his wounded wife to try to protect her.

This situation no matter how you look at it is a tremendous tragedy and a total disgrace to any freedom-loving person. To kill others for speaking or attempting to live their personal pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness is evil. No glory, respect or understanding should be shown to such a horrific act in which violates such a serious commandment such as the Lord’s prohibition on murder.

This kind of pure evil is exactly what the Adversary wants, to inspire people to kill or have lack of empathy over a killing because someone is “marked” as an enemy. Anyone that has desires to kill our “enemy” is a friend and follower of the devil. We have been clearly told to love our enemies. Congress Woman Gabby Gifford and others were only doing what is within their rights to do as citizens of this country. People may not agree with someone’s political beliefs but they do have a God given right to have them, whether they be right or wrong. We as citizens are the ones responsible if we choose leaders that are not in line with the original intent of the Constitution, the person that is wrongly chosen is NOT where the blame lies. The blame lies within the people of this country that have turned away from God.

If one has the desire to protect the Constitution of the United States of America they will do it by non-violent means. If one is attempting to destroy America and its Constitution, violence is the way to achieve it. We are told that the people will flee to Zion for safety if they desire not to have to take up arms against their neighbor. As Latter-day Saints it is our duty to be the peacemakers, the ones that keep a Christ-like attitude and behavior as an example and light to the world, to guide people in the ways of God.

Saturday was a sad day for Freedom-loving people for a person took the Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness away from people on this tragic Saturday. Where is the justice in that? There is none.

“Politicized Pundits and Politicians (PPPs) are on the air now analyzing the ramblings of Loughner, as if they are worthy of analysis. They are already starting to use him as a poster child for gun control or against the Tea Party, or for a Rodney King-style “can’t we all be friends” approach to political civility.”

Whether the killer’s political views were Right, Left, Tea Party, Anarchic or just crazy, his actions are evil and inspired by the Devil. This is not the way to change politics or show ones disdain for others views. It only creates a state of fear and distrust that leads to more conflicts and freedoms being taken away.

Some may refer to certain political leaders or candidates as the enemy and use such words as proponents of One World Oder or Gadiantions, but who is the real Gadianton, considering that the gunman’s actions could lead to more curtailment of freedoms?

The ballet box not bullets is the correct means to reform a government, in a Christ-like manner, anything more or less is inspired and applauded by the Devil. For this country to get back on track it can only be accomplished through repentance and turning back to God.

This kind of evil horrific act only plays into the Devils hands no matter how you look at it. Any person that participates or desires to ignite the fires of a bloody violent revolution is not being inspired by God and has lost the Spirit of God, if they even ever had it in the first place. We should be praying for the victims and their families and for order and Christ-like thoughts to return to the hearts of any other persons that have this blood-lust rage that is inspired of the devil.

Please pray with me for those that have suffered through this horrible event and for those whose hearts have become so hardened that they can do such acts. Pray also for our country and its healing that can only come from turning to Christ. Pray that we can hold up the Constitution that is hanging by a thread by our example of Christ-like behavior and love.

Rosabella Knightley