Outrage and sadness over the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona reverberated Saturday among New Jersey politicians who know her and her husband, West Orange native Mark Kelly. "Oh, my God, this is awful," said Rep. Albio Sires (D-13th District), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who sits next to Giffords during committee hearings and recently...
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In a photo from Giffords' campaign website, she is shown with her husband, Capt. Mark Kelly. Kelly is an astronaut and a native of West Orange.Outrage and sadness over the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona reverberated Saturday among New Jersey politicians who know her and her husband, West Orange native Mark Kelly.
"Oh, my God, this is awful," said Rep. Albio Sires (D-13th District), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who sits next to Giffords during committee hearings and recently traveled with her to Israel. He described his fellow Democrat as "a good, close friend of mine."
Giffords was in critical condition last night, but an unidentified young girl was among at least five killed. At least 10 others were wounded, officials said.
Authorities said Giffords was shot in the head at close range by a 22-year-old man who approached her during a public appearance in Tucson. The alleged gunman, identified by the Associated Press as 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, was apprehended.
Rep. Steve Rothman, (D-9th District), who has served with Giffords on the House Science and Technology Committee, referred to Giffords as "one of the most beloved members of the House." Rothman was audibly shaken by the news when interviewed over the phone. He described her as "charming, lovely, brilliant, warm, intellectually curious, intellectually honest — and tough as nails."
New Jersey’s two Democratic U.S. senators also issued statements.
"We are all shocked and saddened by the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and other innocent people today," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg. "Rep. Giffords was innocently pursuing her interest in serving the public when she was shot in this maniacal act. America must not tolerate violence or inflammatory rhetoric that incites political violence."
Sen. Robert Menendez said news that Giffords would likely survive the incident was "a ray of sunshine on an otherwise dark day."
"While many details of this horrific incident are still unknown … one thing is clear: This was a vicious and intolerable act that contradicts the values of which our great nation is built."
Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex) grew to know Giffords’ husband, astronaut and former Navy captain Kelly, and his twin, Scott, also an astronaut, while serving a 12-year term as mayor of West Orange. The twins would often speak at area schools and community groups about their jobs.
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Police and firemen stand outside the Safeway in Tucson where Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot at a event, along with 17 others. Six are dead."I, personally, and all of West Orange stands with him at this time of tragedy," McKeon said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go to Congresswoman Giffords and all of the victims and their families."
Giffords and Kelly were married Nov. 10, 2007.
The couple met in China in 2003, when they were selected as young leaders by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Kelly was married at the time and Giffords, then an Arizona state senator, was in a relationship.
At the same meeting the next year, Kelly was divorced. At their wedding, former Labor secretary Robert B. Reich was quoted to toast the couple: "To a bride who moves at a velocity that exceeds that of anyone else in Washington, and a groom who moves at a velocity that exceeds 17,000 miles per hour."
By Steve Strunsky and Bob Considine/The Star-Ledger
Staff writers Sarah Portlock and Bob Braun contributed to this report.