Jared Lee Loughner.

Yesterday, Jared Lee Loughner was sentenced for opening fire at a Safeway in Tucson during one of Gabrielle Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" events.

Loughner was sentenced to seven life sentences and an additional 140 years; the seven life sentences are six for the people who were killed and one for attempting to kill a member of congress and the 140 years is 20 years for each person injured.
I was in class during the sentencing, but I followed three reporters who reported from the courtroom via Twitter. Being able to follow this sentencing was important to me for several reasons. First, the mass shooting rocked my quiet little college town. The event affected the entire country, rippling through the nation, as every tragedy does. But this was in Tucson. One of my homes. It’s that age old cliché: you never think it could happen to you, until it does. I wasn’t in Tucson when it happened, but when I went back to school three days later, the whole town was in a state of terror and shock. My roommates and I visited the memorial, and it was nothing like I have ever experienced before. Nothing I ever want to experience again. Here's my post from last year about the memorial.

It also made me think about the people around me. I always felt safe at U of A. Whether that’s because I spent time in high school there, I had created my life there, or just being lulled into a false sense of security, but I always felt safe. When it first came out that Loughner was a student, I had to wonder, was he someone I had seen on campus? Did I pass him in the Union?

Second, I majored in journalism, and this event rocked that world. Several news stations declared Gabby Giffords dead before anything was confirmed. My mom and I had both of our laptops open and two T.V.’s on trying to figure out what was going on, and we were getting a different story everywhere we looked. The initial news about Loughner was just as confusing. I was disappointed in the industry for making as many mistakes as they did.

Third, now I’m in law school, and I have an interest in being a public defender. While I’m attracted to the idea of helping people and ensuring that people receive due process, I don’t know if I could do what Loughner’s defender, Judy Clarke, has done. She’s represented on scary and twisted people. What it comes down to is, being  public defender is not about getting someone off, it’s making sure that someone who can’t afford legal services has help and that they have a fair trial. For this, I have to admire Judy Clarke.

The sentencing trial itself was interesting to read about.
The statements from all of the witnesses were heartbreaking, as well as inspiring. The coverage said that every witness was looking directly at Loughner, and often spoke directly to him. All of them spoke of the pain and sadness that resulted from Loughner's actions. However, every single one of them also testified that they were slowly healing, Loughner didn't ruin them, and they weren't going to dwell on him anymore.
Here are some of my favorite statements:
From Suzi Hileman, who brought her neighbor Christina Taylor Green to the event: "I will walk out of this courtroom and walk into the rest of my life."
From Mary Stoddard, whose husband was killed: "I forgive you. I do not hate you I hate the act you performed."

From Stoddard: "Your family is not blame and I want them to know that I put no responsibility on them."
From Pam Simon, to Loughner's parents: "It is my hope your parents can eventually find some peace."
From Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords' husband, after telling Loughner to pay attention: "You tried to create a world as dark and evil as your own. Know this: you failed.”
From Kelly, regarding Gabby's spirit: "Mr. Loughner, you may have put a bullet through her head, but you have not but a dent in her commitment to make world a better place."
From Kelly: "After today, after this moment, Gabby and I are done thinking about you."

While this trial doesn’t signify the end of the pain and healing that is taking place in Tucson and the families affected, it does at least provide a resolution. From here, things can only get better.