She famously posted a chart of 20 Democratic House districts she said that Republicans should target in 2010, showing these in the crosshairs of rifle sights.

One of them was Congresswoman Giffords who presciently noted at the time, "We're in the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they've got to realize that there are consequences to that action."

Yet another is the gun lobby led by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and their supporters who maintain the second amendment to the US Constitution permits private citizens the unfettered right to bear arms. Their slick website does not condemn the attack but merely offers "thoughts and prayers."

Given their position, they will have to continue to do a lot of praying because they do not engage in much thinking or soul-searching over the consequences of their actions. Arizona is certainly one of the NRA's strongholds. Any state resident over 21 can carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

It is little wonder that gun-related deaths and injuries are top of the charts in the US. This contrast with China, where civilians do not possess guns.

Does this cloud have a silver lining? I really doubt it, but hope so.

Both Democrats and Republicans are talking about lowering the temperature of the political dialogue. That would be wonderful but I am not holding my breath. The forces on the extreme right are unlikely to be much affected.

It nauseates me that there is online support for the shootings in Arizona and even more people who rationalize or condone them. The NRA has already reaffirmed their long-held positions and argue that guns keep people safe. Fox News will likely continue pursuing ratings over civility.

One of the saddest outcomes to this tragedy is the loss of innocent lives. Take the nine year-old victim, Christina-Taylor Green, once featured in the TV program Faces of Hope: Babies Born on 9/11.

Well, last Saturday in Tucson, hope died.

The author is former director and vice president at ABC Television. hdzodin@ hotmail.com