George Tiller & Vigilantism
by Pete Lucas, a contributing author:
Preface: For the record, I am pro-life, I believe that life begins at conception, and I believe that abortion in all of its forms are murder. I believe that late-term abortion is particularly atrocious, because the baby is developed to the point where it could live outside the womb. My own sister was born at just over 6 months and is now a healthy, happy college student. This editorial is not an endorsement of vigilantism, which is not the solution to the problem of abortion. The person who killed George Tiller should and will be punished for his crime.
Wichita abortionist Dr. George Tiller practiced the barbaric butchering of innocent babies for money, and claimed he did so out of compassion. He even claimed to be a Christian. His acts are despicable towards God and humanity, and the shame is that what he was doing was perfectly legal in Kansas. He was a hardened advocate of late-term abortion, dead set on killing babies no matter how much moral or political pressure he received.
In the 1980’s, pro life groups practiced civil disobedience and peaceful protests to try and make an impact on the abortion issue. Although many spent time in jail for their actions, no change occurred in the law. During that time, a majority of adults believe that abortion was okey-dokey and that it should be legal (I’ll refrain from commenting on what this says about the “Greatest Generation” and the Baby Boomers). Frustration mounted in certain elements of the pro life movement, because every action was met by an unequal reaction.
I spent my childhood holding signs in front of Planned Barrenhood in Overland Park. But ultimately restrictions were placed on peaceful protests that forced pro life protesters (yet strangely Fred Phelps and his merry posse don’t have these restrictions) to stand so far away from clinics it was moot - even though these protests were being held on public sidewalks. In fact, even according to the latest DHS report, pro life activists (yes, even the peaceful ones) are considered potential terrorists.
Sometimes frustration boiled over to the point that an act of vigilantism occured. Tiller was the fourth abortion doctor killed by a vigilante.
Does this mean the pro life movement is a bunch of fringe lunatic terrorists? Not in the slightest.
First of all, being pro life is no longer a “fringe” belief. According to Gallup’s latest numbers, a majority of Americans believe that abortion should be illegal or severely restricted.
So why don’t the laws change to reflect what Americans believe? Democracy no longer plays a part in this issue. The “Supreme” Court has made it’s decision and taken it out of the hands of representative government. That’s why peaceful protest and civil disobedience are completely ineffective. The only avenue for ending abortion is by managing to appoint enough members to the court, which is as unlikely as it is fair.
In America, shouldn’t decisions as important as this be debated by the public and decided by those who truly represent us? Until we do this, some people will take matters into their own hands as the person who killed George Tiller did last Sunday.
As for the fate of George Tiller, I don’t wish anyone to hell. The blood of tens of thousands of babies were on his hands, but as the Bible says “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Perhaps in his last moments he cried out to God and begged for forgiveness. As Christians, this should be our hope. But the Bible also says that “God hates hands that shed innocent blood” and that He “hates the unrepentent sinner.” For the sake of his eternal soul, I hope that he saw the light in his last moments.
Related Posts:
- Statement from CWA’s Wendy Wright on Tiller
- National Right to Life Committee on killing of late-term abortionist George Tiller
- Tim Huelskamp on Sebelius-abortion veto
- Tony Perkins of Family Research Council on George Tiller murder
- LifeNews: Abortion Business in Philadelphia Gives Away Free Abortions Honoring George Tiller
