Ian Bunn | Political & Popular Culture Arts

Jared Lee Loughner the 22 year old American charged with the January 8 Tucson shootings that killed six people and left fourteen others injured including Congress woman Gabrielle Giffords, is having his mental stability investigated. His behavioral and personality issues started to surface when he dropped out of High School, keeping to himself and not respond to others, along with alcohol and drug abuse including cannabis, psychedelic mushrooms, LSD and Salvia a natural and legal hallucinogen. Loughner was rejected as unqualified for service by the U.S. Army, and in turn appears to have rejected society including his friends, family and many social mores. Loughner believed in numerous conspiracy theories, and exhibited a longstanding dislike for Gabrielle Giffords, repeatedly derided her as fake.

Inspired by Jo Becker, Serge F. Kovaleski, Michael Luo and Dan Barry ow.ly/3KgSc image source Wikipedia ow.ly/3KgRL

Sarah Louise Palin the 46 year old former Governor of Alaska and former vice-presidential nominee of the Republican Party and potential 2012 presidential nominee, has become the centre of attention in the aftermath of the Tucson shootings involving a political opponent Gabrielle Giffords. Palin used ‘crosshairs’ on a campaign poster during recent political campaigning to target Giffords district, with accusations now being made that she may have unwittingly inspired the shooter. Palin retaliated to the accusations describing them as a ‘blood libel’, a term referencing the persecution of European Jews through superstition that Jews needed the heathen blood for ritual sacrifices. Palin’s use of this term has resulted in even greater outrage.

Inspired by John Berman ow.ly/3Ie8y and Ishaan Tharoor ow.ly/3Ie90 Image source ow.ly/3IdM9