Arizona Sheriff Slams Right-Wing Media and Gun Laws: "Arizona Victimized by Gun Lobby" ... Conservative Media "Make Millions Inflaming Public"

Arizona Sheriff Dupnik stood by earlier comments that the right-wing has created a climate of hate that can lead individuals to violence.

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SHERIFF CLARENCE DUPNIK: That’s a fact. And as a matter of fact, in Pima County, where I happen to be the sheriff, the finest psychiatric facility in our county is the Pima County Jail.

AMY GOODMAN: Sheriff Dupnik, have you spoken to Jared Loughner?

SHERIFF CLARENCE DUPNIK: I have not spoken to him. As a matter of fact, nobody has spoken to him. When he was subdued and put in police custody, when he was advised of his Miranda rights, he invoked his Miranda rights and has not talked.

AMY GOODMAN: Today he will be arraigned. On what charges?

SHERIFF CLARENCE DUPNIK: Well, I’m not sure exactly. These are federal charges, that he’s going to be arraigned in Phoenix because of a conflict we have, because one of the victims is a federal judge here in Tucson. But he’s going to be arraigned on murder charges.

AMY GOODMAN: Well, I want to thank you very much for being with us. Clarence Dupnik is the Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona. This is Democracy Now!

SHERIFF CLARENCE DUPNIK: Thank you very much.

AMY GOODMAN: Thank you for joining us from Tucson.

Amy Goodman is the host of the nationally syndicated radio news program, Democracy Now! .