After yesterday's shooting in Tucson that killed six persons and seriously injured others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said that hateful rhetoric in American media may be inciting unbalanced people to violence.
I'd just like to say that when you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government, the anger, the hatred … The bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And unfortunately Arizona, I think, has become sort of the capitol. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry.
His remarks ignited debate about free speech and when asked to clarify, Dupnik stood by his words in a press conference today:
Well, I think that when the rhetoric about hatred, about mistrust about government, about paranoia about how government operates, and to try to inflame the public on a daily basis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, has impact on people, especially who are unbalanced personalities to begin with.
As to the climate in Arizona, he said "I think we're the tombstone of the United States of America," citing proposed legislation to allow teachers and students to carry weapons in college and the number of mentally ill people wandering the streets.
So far, no motive has been revealed for Jared Lee Loughner, the gunman in Tucson's shooting. Yet, the debate about hate speech in America continues.
CNN reports today that lawmakers called for toning down the political rhetoric in Washington and across the country.
Will the irresponsible actions of a few affect the many?
One case, Snyder v. Phelps, could impact free speech and First Amendment rights in terms of demonstrations. The pending case, which was heard before the Supreme Court in October, is centered around the demonstrations by the Westboro Baptist Church as military funerals. The church is often seen picketing these funerals and other sensitive events with its "God Hates America" and "God Hates Fags" types of signs.
Right Wing Hate on Talk Radio Accused of Inspiring TN Gunman.
In July 2008, an unemployed truck driver named Jim Adkisson opened fire on members of a Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville, Tennessee, killing two and wounding several others. "The church never met a pervert it didn't like," according to Jim Adkisson. He had left a suicide note, urging like minded persons to "do something for their country by killing liberals."
In 2009, Bill Moyers examined the role of hateful rhetoric from talk radio and its possible role in Adkisson's shooting spree.
In October, Rachel Maddow's documentary, The Assassination of Dr. Tiller, revealed the role of fundamentalist religion and extremism in the violence and threats that are faced daily by abortion providers throughout the country.
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