If something doesn’t give, our way of life as far as politics go will soon be challenged, especially after the horrible Shooting of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and six others slain, at the hands of a gunman.
Many of our government buildings including the White House are not longer immediately available to the public. Now we may not have as much access to our local elected officials. 
The Arizona event Saturday was supposed to be a route voter meet-and greet, that Congresswoman woman Giffords even called for constituents to come out and voice their concerns. When it was all over, Giffords miraculously survived a point-blank gunshot to the head.
A federal judge is among the dead, and a 9-year-old girl.
The shooter – identified as Jared Laughner, apparently walked up to Giffords as she spoke to a local couple, aimed his handgun and fired from just a few feet away, and the Congresswoman had a bullet pass completely through her skull before she collapsed before horrified constituents. Witnesses said the shooter squeezed off as many as 20 shots before the madness ended.
There will be a renewed call for tighter gun control, with advocates on the other side not wanting to give up an inch of their second amendment rights to bear arms. The political lobby of the National Rifle Association remains a powerful one.
But we as Americans have to be just as powerful and loud in arguing the heated political rhetoric and inflammatory language that has come with it, sweeping all across America, must come to an end.
Turns out in this case, Giffords, a lifelong resident of Arizona, was targeted during her re-election campaign last year by Sarah Palin, the Tea Party and opponents of health care reform.
Palin, in identifying 20 vulnerable Democrats actually created a map illustrating the targets with a gun sight on each district.
A Congressman in our area, Rep Steve Israel, D-L.I., has already, and rightfully so, made the connection between the shootings and the nation's political divide.
"This is both a personal tragedy and a tragic reminder that we cannot remain silent when political rhetoric turns violent," Israel said.
Palin is among the politicians condemning the attack and sending condolences to the Giffords.
"My sincere condolences are offered to the family of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and the other victims of today's tragic shooting in Arizona," she said.
Giffords was also an outspoken critic of the Arizona’s tough immigration law. Her father Spencer Gifford, 75, was rushing to the hospital when asked if his 40-year-old daughter had any enemies.
"Yeah," "The whole Tea Party." He said.
If Americans don’t put an end the heated rhetoric, we will only remember the good old days when we could actually approach our members of congress and walk up to them before the days of heavy security protection.
All of our prayers should be with Congresswoman Giffords, her astronaut husband, the family of Federal Judge John M. Roll, third grader Christina Taylor Green, and all the other victims.
The Political climate in America is deeply poisoned with partisan politics. All of us have an obligation to fix it.