San Diego Reader

San Diego-Based Federal Judge Postpones Giffords Shooter Trial, Expresses Admiration for How Far Giffords Shooter Has Come Already

"Our prayers are with you, and we look forward to the day when you can resume your place among us."

LAST CALL AT THE FAMOUS LAST WORDS BAR, ACROSS FROM SAN DIEGO FEDERAL COURTHOUSE - Two days ago, Federal Judge Lenny Byrne agreed to postpone the trial of Jared Loughner, the man charged with killing six people and wounding 12 others - including US Representative Gabrielle Giffords - in an Arizona shooting spree last January.

Byrne granted the postponement because Loughner's doctor's say the alleged shooter is making "measurable and heroic progress" in his recovery from the brain damage that rendered him mentally incompetent to stand trial last May.

Noted head doctor Sigmund Hedshrunk recalls that early on, "many people said that the Giffords Shooter would never recover his faculties. That the damage was too severe. But we continued to believe in him, and to dream of a day when all our efforts would bear fruit. We've still got a long way to go, but this ruling was an important milestone. It says that there was reason for our hope. That if you believe in your dreams, you can accomplish anything, even the seemingly impossible. Unless, of course, you're the Giffords Shooter, and your dreams are of using prime numbers to disprove the existence of God. But our dreams, the dreams of one day restoring the Giffords Shooter to full mental capacity despite the obvious trauma he has suffered - those dreams can come true."