Parents of Slain 9 Year Old Speak

This is a Today show interview with Roxanna and John Green, the parents of 9 year old Christina Green, who was born on September 11, 2001 and was killed in the Tucson shooting on Saturday. Roxanna talks about how their daughter dealt with being born on such a horrible day by looking forward to a better future. And, as Hot Air's Ed Morrissey notes, John Green personifies "heartbreaking grace and tremendous courage in the face of unspeakable tragedy."

"We're going to remember her for the nine years we had her," says Green, who continues:

This shouldn't happen in this country, or anywhere else, but in a free society, we're going to be subject to people like this. I prefer this to the alternative.

More here.

Comments

[Spoonman.]

Fuck. I'd forgive this guy for saying "RAHRR GUNS ARE EVIL", because who can be expected to think rationally when their 9-year-old daughter got shot to death?

[Trespassers W]

OK, that made me tear up.

The guy lost a daughter but has somehow managed to keep his head. So what's Krugman's excuse?

[cynical]

You're assuming that the left wing shit-spewers are do so in an over-emotional reaction to tragedy rather than a deliberate and malicious attempt to use that tragedy to gain political advantage.

[paloma]

Can't it be both? They do score pretty high in neuroticism.

[Pro Libertate]

Just heart-wrenching.

[R C Dean]

I saw that this morning while I was getting dressed. A truly impressive man.

[kinnath]

John Green is a better man than me.

[Brett L]

In recognizing that we improve ourselves.

[Old Mexican]

This shouldn't happen in this country, or anywhere else, but in a free society, we're going to be subject to people like this. I prefer this to the alternative.

1) What a big slap to the face of anti-freedom ideologues.
2) Some nut job, somewhere, is going to try to dig up some connection between this grieving father and the Tea Party or libertarian group to explain why he prefers Liberty instead of the protective hand of The Great Saving State.

[Tim]

A very impressive man. Even more so when you think that "people" were probably encouraging him to get hysterical.

[ali]

funny that on that same hot air page recognizing the virtue of a free society, there is an ad saying "stop the ground zero mosque". well, it is hot air.

[ali]

and i have total and utter heartfelt respect for mr. green. may his daughter rest in peace.

[Warty]

Today's WTF: Gabrielle Gifford's Youtube channel shows her as a subscriber of Jared Lee Loughner's Youtube channel.

[Geotpf]

Maybe a Congressional staffer did that after the shooting, using the "subscribe" feature merely as a bookmark to the existing videos.

[Patriot Mike]

Heartbreaking. I'd take a bullet for my 5 year old any day. As long as we the sheeple refuse to arm ourselves, nuts like this will always have a target rich environment.

[Hooloovoo]

Yes, because another dozen armed amateurs pulling their weapons would have made the shooting *so* much better.

[IceTrey]

There WERE armed citizens there who ran to the sounds of the shooting ready to stop it.

[cynical]

I thought someone in the crowd shot back at the guy? Don't know if it did any good or not.

[Rick James' Dog]

I believe they would have. Especially if Loughner had no cover.

[paloma]

In Colorado a few years back,two evangelical type churches were attacked by a former member, who was also a nutjob. The second church had an armed guard who actually shot and killed the shooter before he could open fire on the congregation.

[Michael Ejercito]

Yes, because another dozen armed amateurs pulling their weapons would have made the shooting *so* much better.

Like the police?

[slutmonkey]

considering how well the cops in my town aim, I'd rather have a bunch of "amateurs" since even the ones who only bought a gun a month ago have probably practiced more than the cops.

[Pip]

AZ is an open-carry state.

[Dylboz]

We're also one of only three no-permit required concealed carry states. One of the men who stopped this guy was in fact armed, but decided not to pull his gun for fear of harming others, and waited for the opportunity to tackle him instead. At least, that is what I understand. The fact that I live in Tucson in no way means I have any more information than anyone else.

[Wow, Just Wow]

That he still manages to say that in the immediate aftermath. God Bless.

[P Brooks]

in a free society, we're going to be subject to people like this.

"The poor man; he's deranged with grief."

[Old Mexican]

"Quick! He's clearly hysterical!"

[max hats]

Is she still "an emoticon" you sick fuck?

[max hats]

http://reason.com/blog/2011/01.....s#comments

[Kristen]

Good for him. My heart goes out to that whole family.

The video reminds me of when the first soldier was killed in Bush #2's Iraq war, and Katie Couric was interviewing the mother of the soldier. Couric asked something like "BUt you can understand why we had to go to war, right?" and the mother said, bless her, "No".

[LarryA]

American Citizenship 101

[CatoTheElder]

"American Citizenship 101"

Yeah, and Mr. John Green gets an A+, and graduates magna cum laude.

[TrickyVic]

Agreed

[VoteMuslimNoPork]

If only other Americans could be this level headed in the face of tragedy ...

[Matt]

I myself am not a big fan of guns and I think there's probably too many of them. But the dangers of guns can't be legislated away -- the technology exists, pandora's box is open.

The father's statement was brave and a very hard statement to make. Some parents would rather the whole world be enslaved than lose their child, and I can understand that sentiment.

While guns are used to commit horrific acts, the pandora's box is open and it would be folly and dangerous to only allow the government to bear them. If I could trust the government to disarm in addition to disarming the general populace, it might make sense, but even then criminals might be able to forge guns on the black market.

[AlmightyJB]

"even then criminals might be able to forge guns on the black market"

might? You think the drug trade is violent, wait until their dealing arms. It won't just be the type of weapons available in most gun stores today either. I certainly would not obey any order to disarm knowing what the consequences of such an action would be.

[Matt]

You're right. And besides human threats guns are effective for self-defense against animals and for hunting. And self-defense vs animals believe it or not is necessary -- think mistreated pit bulls or wild mountain lions (whose attacks are becoming increasingly common in Cali, in all seriousness).

[jester]

Seems Mexico's gun ban hasn't worked. Of course, that's because the evil Yankee power to the north allows them and they are too easy to smuggle in. So they say.

As I understand it, most of the violence is perpetrated with home-made weapons. The fancy US guns are bling for the ring-leaders.

[Madbiker]

The danger of anything cannot be legislated away. He could have used a car and plowed it into the crowd, or used a knife to stab indiscriminantly, or thrown a pipe bomb full of nails...pick your weapon.

INTENT to kill is the only thing you really need. Weapons are ancillary.

[Geotpf]

Well, weapons do make it much easier.

[kinnath]

necessary versus sufficient

[Michael Ejercito]

Well, weapons do make it much easier.

Which is why governments will not give them up.

[Michael Ejercito]

If I could trust the government to disarm in addition to disarming the general populace, it might make sense, but even then criminals might be able to forge guns on the black market.

Sten guns can be mass-produced for $11 per unit.

[Michael Ejercito]

While guns are used to commit horrific acts, the pandora's box is open and it would be folly and dangerous to only allow the government to bear them. If I could trust the government to disarm in addition to disarming the general populace, it might make sense, but even then criminals might be able to forge guns on the black market.

Sten guns can be mass produced at less that $11/unit.

[P Brooks]

If only other Americans could be this level headed in the face of tragedy ...

[P Brooks]

Squirrels!!!!

*shakes fist in impotent rage*

At least we can rely on Janet Napolitano to keep her wits about her, and not act rashly.

[Madbiker]

Incredible that he can say this in the face of such tragedy.

[Rich]

I prefer this to the alternative.

My condolences, Mr. Green. Thank you for this truly great sentiment.

[-]

A new Brady Bill will ban "threatening" speech and symbols.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-.....-lawmakers

[Anonymous Coward]

Specifically, it will ban making threats to our political "betters" legislators and federal judges.

The philosopher-kings/aristocracy must be protected from the commoner filth.

[Geotpf]

Threatening somebody's life is already illegal. This changes little.

[robc]

So no need for it.

[generic Brand]

Unless you're the president of the United States.

[wheelock]

That is exactly why its scary. The idea can only be to redefine "threatening" as covering a much wider range. I suspect that this bill has been sitting around for months waiting for the opportunity.

[Xenocles]

Good rundown here

[-]

"The level of discourse is out of control," Hinojosa said.

"You can't threaten the president with a bullseye or a crosshair," Brady said.

Hmm. Can I call the president a socialist? Is that hate speech? What if I take one of those famous posters and change "HOPE" to "HO"? Is that hate speech? Does it really mean that I want to kill the president? Should the word "target" be stricken from the dictionary? Maybe we should call it "the T word."

[LibertyMark]

Oh, my heart aches... I have a daughter, what unspeakable sadness!

And yet, as you all have noticed, he still managed the best single-sentence defense of liberty I have heard in a long time.

[Captain Obvious]

This guy is a hero. How he could have any composure, let alone this degree of selflessness, in the face of such a personal tragedy, on national television, is beyond me.

[Cambion]

Wow, That's some serious strength, grace and fortitude.
It's good to see the American spirit is still kicking. I could almost start feeling patriotic, that is, if I thought Congress might listen to such things.
MY Condolences, Mr. Green. This too shall pass.

[The Mossy Spaniard]

Everybody else has already said it, but God bless the Green family and mad props to Mr. Green for having this kind of graceful insight at such a rough time.

I just hope some people have the tact to take his words to heart.

[RyanXXX]

Wow. Just wow - what a hero.

BTW, apparently Gifford was subscribed to Loughner's youtube page:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/74967.html

[Jeffersonian]

This is a tough, tough man. I'd be a wreck if one of my kids had been killed. God bless him and his poor daughter.

[Hobo Chang Ba]

John Green for President!

[Digital Ruse]

My heart goes out to him, and what an amazingly rational and brave thing to say. I don't know if I could have done the same thing in his position.

[Rachel Maddow]

Dammit! I so wanted him to come on my show and denounce Sarah Palin!

[Dello]

Of all of the "heroes" that will be claimed from this incident, the man who had his daughter killed because of freedom, but still supports that freedom, is the truest hero.

I can only hope that I have the courage and conviction to act the same were it to happen to me.

[Troy]

What is sad, among many other facets, is that our legislators can't be this rational even when the only thing they have to worry about is gag reflex of the lobbyist sucking their cock.

[asdf]

lol awesome

[Barely Suppressed Rage]

A dad of one of the girls killed in the Virginia Tech shooting spree spoke before Congress and essentially said they should not use that incident as an excuse to implement more gun control. He said he blamed the shooter (Cho) solely, and not the gun, which is an inanimate ojbect.

I was pretty impressed by that. I believe that is the same stance I would take if someone (flying spaghetti monster forbid) shot one of my daughters. I'd want the piece of shit dead, but I wouldn't advocate for more gun control laws.

[generic Brand]

A similar argument was made by the father of a police officer killed in Florida (Lakeland, I think). The father essentially came across as hating the fact that his daughter was killed, but loving the shooter (in the biblical sense). While that in no means the man should be let off if found guilty, a morning show host (read: douchebag) named Bubba the Love Sponge called out the father and said how there was something wrong with him because he wasn't demanding the killer's head on a plate. Some of these talking heads can't imagine someone being rational in a time like this and if they are then the person is either A) a horrible parent; or B) mentally unstable.

Geez I hate Bubba the Love Sponge.

[Michael Ejercito]

A dad of one of the girls killed in the Virginia Tech shooting spree spoke before Congress and essentially said they should not use that incident as an excuse to implement more gun control. He said he blamed the shooter (Cho) solely, and not the gun, which is an inanimate ojbect.

Cho was no different from any of those suicide bombers in Israel.

[Stevo Darkly]

Oh God.

This guy's balls are as big as his heart.

[Almanian]

Wow. I waited to listen to that cause I thought it would be heartrending - it was. I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose a child, much less keep one's composure while responding to all those questions.

[max hats]

Now the parents are heroes to reason. last night, the usual deranged lunatics here were smearing her. The little girl, who was murdered.

P Brooks:

"She's not a little girl, she's an emoticon."

http://reason.com/blog/2011/01.....s#comments

[Fuck Off,]

ass clown.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

Because the two things are exactly the same, yeah?

Go cry at the Daily Kos, you fucking butt monkey.

[cynical]

I think that was smearing the way her image was used, not the girl herself.

[P Brooks]

Outrage troll is outraged.

[LoneSnark]

"This shouldn't happen in this country, or anywhere else, but in a free society, we're going to be subject to people like this. I prefer this to the alternative."

I couldn't disagree more. There is a lot of stuff we put up with to live in a free society, but criminals is not one of them. While a totalitarian state is good at supresing news of such events, I believe gun crime still exists in North Korea and Cuba.

[Jake]

Looks like MSNBC has pulled the video. It's on Youtube at "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXZOGNhw6p8"

[max kill]

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[Some Guy]

Based on that comment alone, this guy should run for and win her seat.