Sheriff Clarence Dupnik: Arizona 'Mecca For Prejudice & Bigotry'

After Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head and a number of others were wounded or killed in a shooting in Tucson, Ariz. on Saturday, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik said that the state has "become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

Addressing the tragedy at a news conference, the sheriff said that law enforcement had reason to believe that Giffords was specifically targeted in the attack. He added that evidence suggests one suspect -- 22-year-old Jared Loughner, who is already in custody -- likely did not act alone.

"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," said the sheriff. "And unfortunately, Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry."

When asked by a reporter if Giffords being shot could have been motivated by "prejudice and bigotry," Dupnik responded, "All I can tell you is that there's reason to believe that this individual may have a mental issue. And I think that people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol."

While speaking, the sheriff said that himself it included, "it's not unusual for all public officials to get threats." However, he said the sentiment doesn't come without consequences.

"And that's the sad thing of what's going on in America," he explained. "Pretty soon, we're not going to be able to find reasonable, decent people who are willing to subject themselves to serve in public office."

(Click here for the latest developments unfolding following the incident.)

Comments

[Doug Cowley]

10:56 AM on 01/13/2011

The sheriff told it like it is. As a man on the front lines of law enforcement, he has alerted the nation to what happens when vitriol and bulls-eyes come out of the right wing noise machine.

Meanwhile, President Obama gave a wonderful and healing speech to millions of people last night, honoring the sheriff and all the others involved in fixing the problem and especially those who were hurt or killed in the rampage, particularly the little girl. It was a speech of poetry and power, rising far above the nasty rhetoric of the wounded right. Even Krauthammer on Fox News was awestruck by the elegance and correctness of his words.

Thank goodness that we have such an excellent president in Barack Obama!

[Y2K11]

10:00 AM on 01/11/2011

‎"If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun." - Barack Obama

[Y2K11]

09:59 AM on 01/11/2011

'Mecca For Prejudice & Bigotry' - talk about a prejudicial statement of vitriol that comes out of certain mouths. He associates Mecca with prejudice & bigotry - What hypocrisy!

[SoCal John]

11:22 PM on 01/11/2011

mec·ca NOUN:
1) A place that is regarded as the center of an activity or interest.
2) A goal to which adherents of a religious faith "or practice" fervently aspire.
3) A place visited by many people: a mecca for tourists.

I am sure the Pima County Sheriff was using it as a noun to describe it as a "center of activity" for Prejudice & Bigotry and would know this far better than you, but your twist on words I did find rather amusing!

[dlbnext]

09:53 AM on 01/11/2011

The censors on this Soros sponsored site are out in force today.

[Patricia Win]

08:23 PM on 01/10/2011

I am so impressed with this brave and thoughtful man. We need more voices like his. It should not be so unusual for someone to think the things he did, speak the words he said, care the way he clearly does.
We need more Sheriff Dubniks

[Danny Darville]

11:05 AM on 01/13/2011

if he had done his job...we would not be having this conversation today.

[Big Evil]

07:34 PM on 01/10/2011

Sheriff Dupnik should have to answer why he did not post security at this event where a member of congress was speaking. Even after knowing of threats against congress who support border security. She was 60 minutes away from the border. Where was security for this event sheriff!!!???

[SoCal John]

11:51 PM on 01/11/2011

Ridiculous...when political discourse is to a level where the Leaders on the right preach toting guns to political events, then want to pass acts (GOP Bill this week wanting a plexiglass protective sheild blocking public from congress) and expect the government to stand in and protect every event they attend?

With Arizona gun laws, he could have brought his legal gun to the event anyhow.

[E Pluribus Unum 2010]

06:45 PM on 01/10/2011

Please join me in sending Sheriff Dupnik some encouraging words. They're gonna come down hard on him.
http://pimasheriff.org/contacts/

[CTtransplant]

02:47 AM on 01/12/2011

Already did!  Great idea!  Fanned and faved!

[E Pluribus Unum 2010]

05:57 PM on 01/10/2011

The "Clarence Dupnik is my Hero" Facebook page is just crossing 7k. Stop on by...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clarence-Dupnik-is-my-Hero/137102173016574?v=wall

[AggieReal]

04:50 PM on 01/10/2011

The sheriff had a first hand look at the scene and inside info.. I trust his judgement and opinion...I wonder if he's been gagged now..I'm sure things will be scrubbed clean now in the interest of stemming any "escalation of tensions" ..

[missygoose0314]

04:11 PM on 01/10/2011

There's obviously a reason why liberals have not gone out and shot Republican politicians like Orrin Hatch - who believes that unemployed people are lazy drug-takers - and that's because liberals tend to be far more intelligent and educated than the conservative base, who base every single decision they make on rhetoric and fear, completely devoid of critical thinking. Republicans are way more "unbalanced" because they are Republicans, so it's not surprising this guy shot a Democrat, while many other hateful Republican politicians can sleep pretty safely at night.

[Michelle in CT]

02:47 PM on 01/10/2011

Sheriff Dupnik is my hero. Waited three years now for someone not of the media to say this. And to say it openly in Arizona- big cojones, big heart...thank you, Sheriff.

[ronkw]

02:43 PM on 01/10/2011

The Tucson massacre ghouls who are now trying to criminalize conservatism have forced our hand.
They need to be reminded. You need to be reminded.
Confront them. Don’t be cowed into silence.
They want to play tu quo que in the middle of a national tragedy? They asked for it. They got it.
http://michellemalkin.com/2011/01/10/the-progressive-climate-of-hate-an-illustrated-primer-2000-2010/

[hmmmmmer]

02:42 PM on 01/10/2011

I was amazed that last night Geraldo agreed with the sheriff saying that he would probably receive a lot of hate mail from his audience. It was refreshing that someone on Faux would see it within reason so agree. Geraldo did make the comment about feeling and opinion, but said that it was time to stop the vitriol.

[HighDesertBob]

02:22 PM on 01/10/2011

".....22-year-old Jared Loughner, who is already in custody -- likely did not act alone."

I am sure he did not act alone. Some of his cohorts include Bill O"Reilly, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Ann Coulter, all of Fox News and countless others who spew hate, vitriol and teabagger propaganda.

[Turtlenewz]

03:47 AM on 01/12/2011

Well Said F&F

[CitizenTaxpayerPatriot]

02:18 PM on 01/10/2011

Really, "the Mecca of Hate and Bigotry", really?... that's... (ahem) well islam-phobic in its face. ...seriously? is it just me?

Suggest a more accurate term... "the Hollywood of Hate and Bigotry" ... to properly contextualize the phony, self-important, hypocrisy, and theatrics associated with labeling any place, person or thing as the capital expression of "Hate and Bigotry".