In the wake of the horrific Tucson shootings politicians have asked that rhetoric be "toned down," and this is a reminder that that request applies to people on both sides of the political spectrum. James Eric Fuller, a victim of the Tucson shooting, was arrested yesterday for making a death threat at Tucson Tea Party founder Trent Humphries. Fuller was in the front row as Humphries was interviewed on ABC's "This Week," and yelled "you're dead" after Humphries suggested conversations about gun control should be delayed until all the dead were buried.
Fuller had campaigned for Giffords during her re-election, and told reporters after the shooting, “It looks like Palin, Beck, Sharron Angle and the rest got their first target.” He had been shot in the knee during Giffords's "Congress On Your Corner" event, which he told the Times he attended to "give her a boost and to protect her from the Tea Party crime syndicate and to shout them down." He has reportedly been calming himself after the shooting by writing out the Declaration of Independence, which he memorized 30 years ago.
Humphries hasn't exactly taken the high road after the shooting either, telling the Daily News that worry over rhetoric is just "political gamesmanship,. He said, "The real case is that she [Giffords] had no security whatsoever at this event. So if she lived under a constant fear of being targeted, if she lived under this constant fear of this rhetoric and hatred that was seething, why would she attend an event in full view of the public with no security whatsoever?"
Fuller was arrested on misdemeanor disorderly conduct and threat charges, and was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. As he was being led out he reportedly yelled, "What’s the matter-with you-whores!” Humphries said of the threat, "This is another sad piece to add to an already tragic set of events. My hope continues to remain that we as a community be allowed the ability to heal and focus on those things that will best help our city and its citizens recover from this deadly tragedy."
