The family of Jared Lee Loughner, the accused gunman in the Arizona shooting spree, expressed their sorrow on Tuesday over the "heinous events," while the congresswoman who was shot in the head showed signs of improvement. In their first public statement, the relatives of Loughner, 22, stated that it was a "very difficult time" and requested privacy. The statement, attributed to "The Loughner Family," mentioned that there are no words that can express their feelings and they wish they could make others feel better. The eight-sentence statement did not mention the young man charged in the shooting at a Tucson shopping mall that resulted in the death of six people, including a federal judge, and injured 14 others. The shooting resulted in Representative Gabrielle Giffords being in critical condition, but she was able to breathe on her own a few days after a bullet went through her brain. The family stated that they were perplexed by the incident and expressed a desire to change the tragic events of Saturday. They also conveyed their deep concern for the victims and their families, offering sincere apologies for their loss. Giffords, a 40-year-old Democrat, was in critical condition at a Tucson hospital, according to her doctor. However, she is "holding her own," responding to simple commands, and breathing without the aid of her ventilation tube. Dr. Michael Lemole, head of neurosurgery at the University Medical Center, expressed hope for her recovery, saying "She has no right to look this good. We're hopeful." He emphasized that her recovery will be gradual, with progress monitored week to week and month to month, allowing her to take her time in healing. President Barack Obama is planning to travel to Arizona on Wednesday to participate in a memorial service for the victims, which included a 9-year-old girl. Meanwhile, in Washington, the House of Representatives was set to vote on condemning the violent attack that left one of their colleagues severely injured and sparked a discussion on the aggressive nature of recent political campaigns. Loughner, the accused gunman, is currently in custody awaiting a preliminary hearing on January 24 for five federal charges, including the attempted assassination of Giffords. The parents of Loughner, Amy and Randy Loughner, were described as devastated by a neighbor, as two young men distributed a statement from the family to the media gathered outside their home in Tucson. Wayne Smith, a neighbor with tears in his eyes, expressed that it is important for people to realize that the son of Amy and Randy is not the culprit and they are devastated. He asked if others would feel the same if it were their child. A recent CBS News poll showed that a majority of Americans do not believe that heated political language played a role in the recent shootings in Arizona. In the survey, 57 percent of respondents believed that the shooting was not influenced by the harsh political tone, while 32 percent thought it was. Republicans, in particular, were least likely to see a connection, with 69 percent rejecting the idea. Although the motive for the attack was unclear, some politicians and commentators suggested that a culture of strong language and extreme beliefs could have played a role. Former President Bill Clinton warned about the impact of inflammatory language, noting the pervasive influence of the Internet. Lawmakers from both political parties have emphasized the importance of being sensitive to the words we speak, as they can impact both stable and unstable individuals. In response to the recent shooting incident involving Congresswoman Giffords, members of Congress will gather for a bipartisan prayer service on Wednesday. Colleagues of Giffords have halted much of their work to reassess their security measures following the attack. The House, currently led by Republicans, has delayed a vote on repealing the healthcare reform supported by Giffords and other Democrats. The accused gunman, Loughner, allegedly used a semi-automatic Glock pistol to open fire on Giffords and her constituents at a supermarket parking lot. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer expressed her sorrow over the tragic event in Tucson, where six loved ones were taken away in a minute, leaving the community with a sense of loss. She mentioned that it is impossible to quantify the impact of the tragedy on Tucson and the state of Arizona. Over 600 mourners attended a memorial service for the victims at St. Odilia Catholic Church in Tucson. In response to concerns about picketing at the victims' funerals by members of a Kansas fundamentalist Christian church, Arizona state lawmakers passed a bill to prevent such actions, which was promptly signed into law by Governor Brewer. The small church's members have become well-known for attending military funerals and claiming that the troops were punished by God due to the acceptance of homosexuality in the United States. They also showed up at the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former presidential candidate John Edwards.