Obama urges Americans to debate Tucson shooting 'in a way that heals'

Washington, Jan 13(ANI): US President Barack Obama has urged Americans to draw a lesson from the lives of the Tucson shooting victims and the actions of the heroes and to usher in a new era of civility in their honor.

US Representative Gabrielle Giffords, and 18 others were shot on January 8 when a gunman, whom police identified as 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, opened fire outside a supermarket where she was meeting with her constituents in Arizona.

Six people were killed in the attack, while Giffords remains in critical condition after being shot in the head.

The dead included Arizona's chief federal judge, John M. Roll.

Obama, who was speaking at a memorial service at the University of Arizona, offered condolences for the victims, and asked Americans to pray for the wounded.

"At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized, at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do, it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds," the New York Times quoted Obama, as saying.

"If this tragedy prompts reflection and debate, as it should, let's make sure it's worthy of those we have lost. Let's make sure it's not on the usual plane of politics and point scoring and pettiness that drifts away with the next news cycle," he added. (ANI)