Angel Dillard insists that she is merely a God-fearing woman doing the work of the Almighty. That is her defense after being sued after sending a threatening letter to Wichita doctor Dr. Mila Means. She insists that her threats were “divinely inspired” and thus protected by the first amendment.
Dillard wrote to Means, warning “They will know your habits and routines. They know where you shop, who your friends are, what you drive, where you live. You will be checking under your car everyday — because maybe today is the day someone places an explosive under it.” It appears that God thinks just like a terrorist in Dillard’s view.
Dillard is being sued under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act seeking a court order that keeps Dillard from contacting Means or coming within 250 feet of Means, her home, car or business. It also seeks damages of $5,000 to Means and a civil penalty of $15,000. It was not charged as a criminal threat — likely because of its lack of a direct threat as opposed to reference to a possible threat by others.
Her defense counsel argued that “Angel Dillard believed she was inspired by God to send a letter to Dr. Means in an attempt to convince her not to pursue her plan to abort babies in Wichita. Angel Dillard wrote the letter quickly, in a matter of minutes, and believed that her message was divinely inspired.”
Dillard does have free speech rights in writing to such doctors to express her condemnation of their work. However, regardless of how impulsive the letter, there is a reasonable concern over the safety of the clinic in the receipt of such a letter given the history of attacks on women and doctors around clinics offering abortion services. These concerns were heightened by the doctor after she read that Dillard had befriended the killer of Dr. George Tiller, who was fatally shot in May 2009 in Wichita by anti-abortion activist Scott Roeder at his Tiller’s church.
I am glad that there was no criminal charge in the case, which does appear to be little more than a hot-headed moment by a zealot. She notably complains that the lawsuit has already caused her to lose her ministry position at her church and at a local jail. Those would appear appropriate responses to her belief that God wants her to terrorize doctors with threats of being blown up.
This video shows someone named Angel Dillard in Kansas who is described as someone who “volunteers at the Kansas State Fair for Kansans For Life, a Pro-Life Advocacy Group. She’s also a bright, eloquent musician and mother of two. Angel is one of the central characters of the documentary film ‘What’s the Matter with Kansas?’” On the video as part of encouraging people to sign an anti-cloning petition (and assuring them that she is a lifelong Republican):
She also appears as part of this clip:
Source: My Antonio
Another fine representative of the religion of peace. Get back to me when you can define the difference between the religiously insane of different sects other than the name by which they address the cosmic muffin that demands they kill for it
In the second video the teen says that we’re meant to be a Christian nation, that it says so in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I would love to give her the assignment to show me the lines in either document. She probably learned that from her parents or her pastor.
She sure as Hell didn’t learn it from a competent lawyer or historian, bettykath.
Gene,
I have started carrying a pocket sized copy of the Declaration and Constitution in my briefcase. I am just waiting for an opportunity to whip it out and challenge one of these folks. Hasn’t happened yet, but I am sure it will soon enough.
OS, I’ll start carrying a copy in my purse. I have some “religious conservatives” family members who need to be given the show-me challenge.
You had better do it slowly, in the daylight, and make sure you tell them it is only paper. Otherwise, such folks will SHOOT you first and ask questions later.
And unfortunately they aren;t apparently learning it in school either.
And I love the philosophy I am justified in terrorizing/killinig you regardless of the law. They forget this is not a theocracy.
bettykath 1, June 7, 2012 at 9:40 am
In the second video the teen says that we’re meant to be a Christian nation, that it says so in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. I would love to give her the assignment to show me the lines in either document. She probably learned that from her parents or her pastor.
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So-called divine inspiration is merely the subconscious perspiration of the amydala, so she needs to get a handle on the madness before it gets a handle on her.
All modern day terrorists claim God tells them these things.
God must be a terrorist too.
Well, it does appear that the freedom of religion folks are pushing that envelope a tad too much.
Crazies, crazies, everywhere you look.
Well, if you believe in religion, you basically don’t believe in society’s laws, now think after, do you?
In the old testament, there are commands to grab the babes of enemies by the heels and strike their heads against stones.
Threats are not protected by the first amendment. Angel Dillard can appeal to God. If that’s where her inspiration comes from.
I have been carrying a copy of the US Constitution for several years but living in Berkeley admit I haven’t had to whip it out. I did a couple of times when a lobby trip to D.C. coincided with the Glenn Beck march there some years ago. Tea party activists saying all kinds of strange stuff and so, I asked them to point to the place which they claimed was in the Constitution. They were all laughing at me as the nut case from Bezerkely. I admit, they weren’t hostile.
OS,
I am with you. I carry a copy of the Constitution in my briefcase. I consider it the real bible.
I don’t want the god she follows…..something seems wrong here…
What Shano says. +1
I was in Berkeley a few times. Very polite. The way people are polite when you’re being ignored.
A Navy Ensign invited me to dinner at his apartment . The guy was Jewish, married to a Vietnamese woman. He said his parents didn’t approve. They lived in Berkeley. I was E-5 enlisted.
Ms. Dillard needs to follow the teachings of Lewis Black and IMMEDIATELY search her surroundings for someone that can get her to the closest rest facility for a relaxing three-day weekend of advanced electro-schlock therapy.