I understand that

the shootings in Arizona were probably not a direct result the violent political rhetoric that has been going on. I get that. I really do. They were the result of a mentally-ill individual that had shown many warning signs before and simply fell through the cracks because of a mental health system that could use a lot of reform. And they were the result of extremely lax gun control laws that allow citizens to obtain guns (and semi-automatics at that) incredibly easily and carry them around without a permit. Political rhetoric, though? There's no evidence to that. I understand that.

But that's not the point.

The point is, it could have very easily been the cause. It is altogether far too plausible that slogans like, "Don't retreat, reload!" and political hit-lists in red-white-and-blue image-form could have pushed a mentally-ill individual to violence. That may not have been the case here, but it could easily be the case in the future. 

The left says, "You did it!" The right says, "Don't blame us!" and, of course, "blood libel!"

But that's not the point.

The point is, six people died, and thirteen people were injured. A Congresswoman was shot. A nine-year-old girl that was only there because she wanted to learn about the government died and died pointlessly. This isn't a time to point fingers. This is a time for people, left and right alike, to come together and find a way to make it so that something like this never happens again. And that includes toning down the hateful rhetoric.

That is all.