Is this the face of evil? Update!

This is the mugshot of Jared Lee Loughner. (Update: Like many of you I also watched Rachel Maddow tonight and she explained that this is NOT Loughner's mugshot.  She also went on to debunk a number of other misunderstandings and conspiracy theories about this case.  I will write a post and embed the video first thing in the morning.)

I am not really somebody who believes in evil, but it is hard not to look at this visage, knowing what he did, and see anything else.

Of course without access to the kind of weaponry that Loughner had in his possession, even somebody as deeply disturbed as he appears to have been, could never have inflicted such devastation on so many innocent lives.

I can only hope that this sends a message to the lawmakers in this country about the need to carefully regulate who does, and who does not have access to such powerful instruments of death. 

Though perhaps that is too much to hope for.

Update: It looks like the Teabaggers have lost little time in turning this tragedy into an opportunity to raise funds.  That is almost as cold blooded as what Loughner did.

Update 2: Mother Jones has an interview with Loughner's close friend.

Loughner would occasionally mention Giffords, according to Tierney: "It wasn't a day-in, day-out thing, but maybe once in a while, if Giffords did something that was ridiculous or passed some stupid law or did something stupid, he related that to people. But the thing I remember most is just that question. I don't remember him stalking her or anything." Tierney notes that Loughner did not display any specific political or ideological bent: "It wasn't like he was in a certain party or went to rallies...It's not like he'd go on political rants."

But Loughner did, according to Tierney, believe that government is "fucking us over." He never heard Loughner vent about the perils of "currency," as Loughner did on one YouTube video he created.