In what can at best be described as a shocking show of insensitivity, the Republican Party of Pima County, Arizona—which includes both Tucson and part of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ congressional district—is fundraising by raffling a Glock handgun (the same make of weapon used in January’s horrific shooting). 

DLCC board member and Democratic leader of the Arizona House (in which Rep. Giffords served before her election to Congress) Chad Campbell blasted the Pima County GOP and called on the group to cancel their “sick” raffle. 

From TPM: 

"I am gun owner myself, a supporter of the Second Amendment and I also believe in common sense, "he said. Their raffle is not common sense; it is sick." 

"The Pima County GOP should call off the raffle in respect for the Arizonans who died and were injured in the Tucson shooting," he added. 

The Pima County Republicans did not respond to a request for comment on the matter earlier Thursday. Campbell made a call for sensitivity in the wake of the deadly Tucson shooting, from which Giffords is still recovering. 

"If any good could have come out of this horrific event, it would be civility in our state or employing sensitivity when needed, not reopening the wounds or making light of them," Campbell said. 

Democratic Rep. Steve Farley, who represents Tucson in the state House, was similarly disgusted. 

"A lot of people who own guns will say the Glock 23 is a lot different than the Glock 19," state Rep. Steve Farley (D-Tucson) told TPM, referring to the type of weapon used to shoot Giffords and the model being raffled respectively. "But just because it's our right to give away a gun in a raffle doesn't mean we should always do it." 

Like many in Tucson, Farley's connection to the shooting is personal. The "hero intern" who helped save Giffords' life once worked on a Farley campaign.
Farley said the auction could be a signal Tucson is returning to the bad old days of overheated conservative political rhetoric preceding the Giffords shooting. 

"Even if this doesn't appear to be offensive to whomever chose to do this and they're shocked, simply shocked at the reaction, that in itself is extreme," he said. "I'm just so sick of the extremism.” 

We can only hope the local GOP heeds the call of Rep. Campbell to cancel this revolting fundraising effort. Surely the Republicans can think of a less sickening way to make money.