A highly controversial late-term (partial birth) abortionist, George Tiller, was murdered while attending the Reformation Lutheran Church after 10 am on Sunday morning, where he was performing the task of being an usher.
Unlike his murderer, who has been named as Scott P. Roeder, 51, of Merriam, Kansas, I do not consider this act a "justifiable homicide."
Those who know Roeder said he believed that killing abortion doctors was an act of justifiable homicide.
"I know that he believed in justifiable homicide," said Regina Dinwiddie, a Kansas City anti-abortion activist who made headlines in 1995 when she was ordered by a federal judge to stop using a bullhorn within 500 feet of any abortion clinic. "I know he very strongly believed that abortion was murder and that you ought to defend the little ones, both born and unborn."
Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University, speaks to the issue with perfect clarity in his piece "Gravely Wicked."
Whoever murdered George Tiller has done a gravely wicked thing. The evil of this action is in no way diminished by the blood George Tiller had on his own hands. No private individual had the right to execute judgment against him. We are a nation of laws. Lawless violence breeds only more lawless violence. Rightly or wrongly, George Tilller was acquitted by a jury of his peers. "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord." For the sake of justice and right, the perpetrator of this evil deed must be prosecuted, convicted, and punished. By word and deed, let us teach that violence against abortionists is not the answer to the violence of abortion. Every human life is precious. George Tiller's life was precious. We do not teach the wrongness of taking human life by wrongfully taking a human life. Let our "weapons" in the fight to defend the lives of abortion's tiny victims, be chaste weapons of the spirit.
While it has been discovered that Roeder was an anti-abortion activist, who had previously posted at the Operation Rescue website, anti-abortion groups have one and all come out against taking Tiller's life as Roeder did.
Murder, pure and simple and no one is advocating it.
Abortion is and has been a very hot button topic and probably always will be. Late-Term abortion aka Partial birth abortion is even more controversial, being that a living child is pulled partially out of the womb and it's brains are sucked out until the fetus dies. (Photos)
It is a matter for laws, courts, voters and authorities to deal with though, and not radical individuals dishing out their own brand of what they consider "justice."
This is turning into a political clusterfuck (only way to phrase this)all over the blogosphere at the moment.
Tiller, the victim of the slaying, has been referred to as "Tiller the Baby Killer," by people like Bill O'Reilly, who will be addressing this issue on tonight's show.
Bill O'Reilly is entitled to his opinion, each person is entitled to their opinion on whether late-term abortion or partial birth abortion is an act of murder, especially in light of the fact that the courts have banned the procedure.
This does not change the fact that even murderers get arrested, go to court and are dealt with by courts of law, Roeder had no right to take Tiller's life.
That is the bottom line, and consistently, we are seeing the anti-abortion groups and conservative bloggers, come out with statements decrying what Roeder did in murdering Tiller.
Americans United for Life Condemns Murder of Dr. George Tiller
WASHINGTON, May 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans United for Life President and CEO, Dr. Charmaine Yoest, issued the following statement to address the murder of Dr. George Tiller:
"We condemn this lawless act of violence. The foundational right to life that our work is dedicated to extends to everyone. Whoever is responsible for this reprehensible violence must be brought to justice under the law."
About Americans United for Life
Americans United for Life (AUL) is a nonprofit, public-interest law and policy organization whose vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life through vigorous judicial, legislative, and educational efforts at both the federal and state levels since 1971. The Wall Street Journal has profiled AUL, and PBS' Frontline program chronicled AUL's successful efforts in Mississippi.
Example of conservative bloggers speaking out against Roeder's actions - Hot Air's AllahPundit and Ed Morrissey:
Ed:
The murder of George Tiller at his church is a heinous crime, without any sense or justice. Regardless of how one feels about George Tiller’s profession, his murderer is nothing more than a domestic terrorist — someone attempting to impose by force a policy that one cannot get in place through democratic means. Tiller’s killer is no better than William Ayers, Kathleen Soliah, and Eric Rudolph, people who attempted to use violence for their extremist ends. Those who value life know that murder is the antithesis of the pro-life movement.
AllahPundit:
....I wish I could say there are no Bill Ayers types on our side, but I can’t; I wish I could say there are no right-wing nutroots degenerates online cheering them on, but I can’t say that either. As for those who condemn the murder while merrily hoping that he’s burning in hell, let a poor confused atheist ask you this: Isn’t the proper Christian response to any death to pray that God will have mercy on a flawed, fallible sinner, who’s now at last seen the error of his ways?.....
It is very simple really, although the hype online is trying to make this a left vs right issue, Tiller was murdered and murder is wrong and against the law. No matter what you think about the murder victim, Roeder took the law into his own hands and should be brought to justice.
Period.
.