The family of the accused shooter in the Arizona shooting spree expressed sadness on Tuesday about the "terrible events," while the congresswoman who was shot in the head showed signs of getting better. In their first public announcement, relatives of Jared Lee Loughner, 22, mentioned it was a challenging time and requested privacy. The statement, credited to "The Loughner Family," expressed that there are no words to convey their feelings and wished they could make things better. The eight-sentence statement did not mention the young man facing charges in the shooting at a Tucson shopping mall that resulted in six deaths, including a federal judge, and 14 injuries. The shooting resulted in Representative Gabrielle Giffords being in critical condition, but she was able to breathe on her own despite a bullet passing through her brain. The family expressed confusion and regret over the tragic events, stating that they wish they could change what happened and expressing deep sympathy for the victims and their families. Giffords, a 40-year-old Democrat, was in critical condition at a Tucson hospital but is "holding her own," responding to simple commands and breathing without the aid of her ventilation tube, her doctor said. Dr. Michael Lemole, head of neurosurgery at the University Medical Center, expressed hope for her recovery, stating that it will be a gradual process. President Barack Obama is planning to travel to Arizona on Wednesday to attend a memorial service for the deceased, which tragically included a 9-year-old girl. In Washington, the House of Representatives had a vote scheduled to condemn the violent attack that nearly claimed the life of one of their own and sparked discussions about the heated politics of recent campaigns. The accused shooter, Loughner, is currently in custody and is set to have a preliminary hearing on January 24 for five federal charges, including the attempted assassination of Giffords. Two young men came out of the gunman's house in a middle-class Tucson neighborhood and handed out a statement from the family to the waiting media. A neighbor had previously mentioned to local media that Loughner's parents, Amy and Randy Loughner, were devastated by the events. Neighbor Wayne Smith, with tears in his eyes, emphasized that the son is not Amy and Randy, and it is important for people to recognize that. He expressed how devastated they are and questioned if others would feel the same if it were their child. The CBS News poll revealed that a majority of Americans do not believe that heightened political rhetoric played a role in the recent shootings in Arizona. The survey revealed that 57 percent of participants believed that the violent political atmosphere was not connected to the shooting, while 32 percent believed it was. Republicans were most likely to reject any correlation, with 69 percent dismissing the idea of harsh rhetoric playing a role in the attack. Although the motive behind the attack was unclear, some politicians and analysts have suggested that a culture of intense language and ideological divide could have been a contributing factor. Former President Bill Clinton advised caution among public officials when choosing their words, noting the powerful influence of the internet and the echo-chamber effect it creates. Lawmakers from both political parties have emphasized the importance of civility in politics, with members of Congress planning to attend a bipartisan prayer service. Following the shootings, Giffords' colleagues in Congress halted much of their work to review their security measures. The House, led by Republicans, delayed a vote on repealing Obama's healthcare reform, which Giffords and other Democrats supported. Loughner allegedly used a semi-automatic Glock pistol to shoot Giffords and others while she was meeting with constituents in a supermarket parking lot. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer expressed in a speech in Tucson that in a brief moment, six loved ones were lost and a sense of well-being was taken away. She mentioned that the impact of this loss on Tucson and Arizona cannot be quantified. Over 600 mourners attended a memorial service at St. Odilia Catholic Church for the shooting victims. Legislation was passed by Arizona state lawmakers to prevent members of a fundamentalist Christian church from picketing at the victims' funerals, a bill that Governor Brewer promptly signed into law. The small church's members have become well-known for attending military funerals and claiming that the soldiers were punished by God due to the acceptance of homosexuality in the United States. They also made an appearance at the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former presidential candidate John Edwards.