A Kansas man, Scott Roeder, has been arrested for the murder of Dr. George Tiller (left), 67, who was shot while serving as an usher at his Wichita church Sunday morning. Tiller was one of the few U.S. doctors performing late-term abortions in the country and had previously survived a 1993 shooting outside of his clinic when he was shot in both arms. I discussed this case on this segment of Rachel Maddow Show.
Tiller died Sunday morning in the foyer of Reformation Lutheran Church, where he served as an usher. Witnesses were able to identify the gunman’s car and give police its license plate.
Tiller practiced for 40 years and was the target of fierce criticism and anger. This anger was fueled by commentators like Bill O’Reilly who repeatedly attacked Tiller by name as guilty of “Nazi stuff” and described him as “Tiller the Baby Killer.” For a description of the Fox statements about Tiller, click here.
He is only the latest victim of such an attack. In 1998, Dr. Barnett Slepian was killed by a sniper in his Amherst, New York, home.
In 1994, Dr. John Bayard Britton and a volunteer escort were shot and killed outside an abortion clinic in Pensacola, Florida.
In 1993, Dr. David Gunn, was shot to death outside his Pensacola clinic.
Eric Rudolph also attacked clinics, maimed a nurse, and killed an off-duty police in a spasm of violence in 1998. ,
For the full story, click here.
I think comparing Pro-life to the KKK is very accurate.
Reoder was nucking futs.
Dr. Tiller was 67. Had he been 51 it would have required him to begin medical practice at the age of 11.
Scott Roeder is one of the eliminationists David Neiwert’s new book is about. They seek to effect political change from the barrel of a gun, just like the Maoists.
The DHS report that flagged rightwing domestic terrorists appears to have been spot on.
Mike A,
Well said.
The reaction to the murder of Dr. Tiller should not be influenced by one’s attitudes about abortion. Dr. Tiller practiced his profession in accordance with the requirements of the law. The campaign of hatred conducted by Bill O’Reilly is the moral equivalent of KKK members espousing violence against civil rights workers. They both represent calls for vigilante conduct and history teaches us that there are always people willing to determine for themselves what the law ought to be and to enforce that determination. We used to call them lynch mobs. Now they simply use guns instead of ropes.
There are appropriate procedures available for those who wish to change abortion laws. Lynching is not one of them.
I’m very pro-life. And I find this story upsetting to read.
The man who killed Dr. Tiller was wrong to do so. As a Christian, Dr. Tiller knew that in the end, he must answer to God for everything he does, as we all do. If the shooter was a Christian as well, he would have known that.
If we all used deadly force on those that do things that we disagree with, no one would be living today.
And those that choose to protest outside the church during Sunday morning services would be better off being in church themselves, praying for an end to an abortion.
Buddha,
Is it permissable to kill in order to protect your own life or the life of another? Why or why not?
Buddha:
I like it: “Pro-life people kill.” Great bumper sticker material and so paradoxical too.
Jim Byrne:
“Aren’t we jumping to conclusions?
The police have arrested a suspect. -That’s all. No confession. No statement of why. The suspect didn’t even have a gun.”
*******************
Read the suggested article then put your thinking cap on. Why would a fanatical ex-con, abortion-obsessed, kook kill a well-known physician specializing in abortions while the victim was handing out bulletins at church? I don’t think it was because he was denied admission to the after-service coffee and doughnut “ministry.”
“What most of you have pointed out are valid reasons that someone would want to kill Tiller.”
There is no valid reason for killing a doctor doing his job as constrained by the law. Pst. Your bias is showing. It’s simple: when “pro-life” people kill, they are illogical hypocrites.
Aren’t we jumping to conclusions?
The police have arrested a suspect. -That’s all. No confession. No statement of why. The suspect didn’t even have a gun.
What most of you have pointed out are valid reasons that someone would want to kill Tiller. However, THE REASON, as yet, has not been disclosed.
eniobob,
Good catch. You beat me to my hometown paper today.
To really understand,heres the bio on Roeder.
http://www.kansascity.com/703/story/1226712.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8076906.stm
Another place where the violent far right and the violent far left agree on one thing … tactics.
There are many who say protesting is not enough.
Wrong.
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/03/when-left-right-agree-on-economy.html
mespo,
I like your thinking in re Billo. Not only would seeing that clown across the “v” be creative, but immensely satisfying.
I wonder if there is a cause of action against O’Reilly et cooks for promoting or encouraging this behavior, especially if it cam be proven that the defendant was motivated by this type of rhetoric? Since aiding and abetting includes “instigation, aid, or encouragement” of a crime, I would like to see such a case in the civil or criminal context. Billo across the “v” would be a creative choice.
AY,
No thanks. Working to clear brush here as quickly as possible.
Well Buddha, the Great State of Texas always seems to be in the light. What say you Kansanian of your state. If you want to make it great like Texas, have I a pair of Bushes you can have.
Lottakatz:
boynk
1, May 31, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Looks like Tiller won’t be practicing any more later term abortions.
Like the increasingly hysterical and incendiary rhetoric on the right didn’t contribute to this murder.
To your point here is what you were talking about:
http://mediamatters.org/research/200808280009