At the time of writing, Gabrielle Giffords, the US Congresswoman shot in the head by a deranged gunman the other day, is showing signs of recovery.

She is reportedly able to obey simple commands and squeeze somebody’s hand.

That is wonderful news and so encouraging.

But of course she has a long way to go, and nobody can guess whether her physical and mental powers will recover partially or completely.

We can pray for her – for her physical wellbeing and for her soul.

And likewise for the others shot in the same rampage.

* * *

The world seems to be getting increasingly violent.

Respect for human life is decreasing.

Why?

There are, doubtless, numerous factors involved.

* European studies have shown that domestic violence in unmarried couples living together has increased by 45 percent in recent years. In married couples it has decreased.

* in the western world most people spend leisure hours watching violence-filled action films.

* our governments send troops overseas to impose by violence our kind of government on people of other cultures.

* we take seriously the arguments of those who would legalise euthanasia — the extermination of old, infirm, incurable and/or depressed persons.

All that, on top our desensitisation to the atrocity of abortion . . .  no wonder killings are becoming more and more common.

* * *

It seems both ironical and tragic that this unlucky lady politician should be a victim of such a violent crime.

Gabrielle Giffords, paradoxically, is a believer in killing the vulnerable — in the context of the abortion issue.

According to the National Right to Life Committee, Giffords had a 100% pro-abortion record during the 2009-2010 session of Congress.

There is plenty of evidence that those directly involved in the abortion industry are disproportionately likely to murder and maim other people. (check: www.prochoiceviolence.com).

* * *

Perhaps the rest of us — bystanders under indirect pressure to accept as “normal” the abortions going on in our communities – are drifting towards accepting violence as normal.

Perhaps some of us, under stress, will become that much more likely to snap and to actually commit murders ourselves.