The MU Democrats and Mizzou College Republicans issued a joint news release condemning the Jan. 8 attack at a meeting for Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D), where six people were killed.

“The executive boards of both the College Democrats and the College Republicans would like to join President Obama, House Speaker Boehner, our state legislature, and countless other Americans in their condemnation of the attack that took place January 8th,” the news release stated. “Violence has no place in the realm of civil debate and the senseless nature of the attack in Arizona and only adds to the strength and magnitude of our condemnation.”

Mizzou College Republicans Chairwoman Sophie Mashburn said both groups will probably discuss the event at their next meetings.

“It’s really tragic,” she said. “I was in tears.”

MU Democrats President Matt Tharp said both groups wanted to do an event to recognize the tragedy.

“We both were talking about how it’d be nice to do something but because of the timing of the event there wasn’t really time to organize,” Tharp said. “It wouldn’t make sense.”

Tharp said instead, he and Mashburn decided to issue a statement to echo others’ statements about not using it as a political opportunity.

“It’s definitely upsetting,” he said. “I think it’s also upsetting that it’s been used by people from both sides of the aisle as a political opp. It’s something that doesn’t need to be political. There’s no reason for politics to have a role in it.”

Referring to how she felt some were using the tragedy as a political opportunity, Mashburn said politicians right and left were throwing daggers at each other.

“Recent events are too tragic for unnecessary partisan bickering, too tragic for hurtful accusations, too tragic for finger pointing,” the news release stated. “There are issues we will struggle to agree on, however we stand in unity with the belief that Christina Green’s America, a better America, is not just desirable. It’s necessary.”