That's the connection:

1) Palin posted a graphic of Giffords image and others in crosshairs,

2) Giffords reaction AT THAT TIME was "We're in Sarah Palin's 'targeted' list, but the thing is that the way she has it depicted, we're in the crosshairs of a gun sight over our district. When people do that, they've got to realize that there are consequences to that action",

3) Ten months after she said that, Loughner walked up to Giffords and shot her in the head, then fired on 18 other people, killing six and

4) Four days later Palin posted on her FB that any suggested connection between her imagery and the attack on Giffords was "blood libel".

That's the timeline. It doesn't APPEAR Loughners actions were connected to Palins imagery by anything more than a rather unlikely series of coincidences. We can't be sure; he's been virtually mute since arrest. We DO know Palins imagery made Giffords fear an attempted murder that came ten months later, and when that attack prompted references to the imagery Palin among others called it "blood libel". In my book that's literally blaming the victim, and disavowing responsibility when a woman who feared your words might kill her was nearly killed. The worst part about that is that she apparently still feels there was nothing wrong with her language despite the fact a woman who felt threatened by it THEN is lying in a hospital NOW, so presumably we can expect more of the same until Palin DOES unequivocally inspire political murder.