Sunday shows: Tucson shooting fallout

Politicians and the chattering class continue their analysis of last weekend’s shooting in Arizona on the Sunday news shows.

The Tucson shooting that left six people dead and injured 13, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), has raised significant policy challenges about mental healthcare and the availability of guns and ammunition in the U.S. It has also sparked debate about the vitriolic tone of the nation’s political discourse, and whether calls to cool things down in the wake of the shooting will have any long-lasting effect.

{mosads}NBC’s “Meet the Press” aims to tackle all those questions with its guests, Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), both of whom are known for their heated rhetoric and partisan politics. The show will also feature Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who will update viewers on the condition of Giffords, her friend.

On CBS’ “Face the Nation,” former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.) tackle the same issues, along with Sen. Gillibrand and Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).

CNN’s “State of the Union” hosts a one-hour program on mental health issues. The show will feature Reps. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), co-chairs of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, to talk about the legislative obstacles that stand in the way of meaningful reform of the nation’s mental health laws and programs.

Napolitano has called for the bipartisan caucus to help educate lawmakers and their staffs about mental illness danger signs, The Hill first reported Tuesday. Murphy, a psychologist, has also weighed in on the issue.

Finally, ABC News’ “This Week” opts for a different route. Christiane Amanpour goes to Tucson to host a town hall meeting with citizens and community leaders for “an American conversation.”

Fox, the cable channel that’s been at the center of the controversy over heated political rhetoric, is opting for an alternative to the Tucson saturation coverage. “Fox News Sunday” hosts Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) to talk about his budget-cutting strategy as states across the country face dire economic woes. And former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.), an oft-mentioned candidate for president in 2012, talks about his plans for the future.