Suspect in Tiller's Murder May Be Charged Today
Political Extremist Condemned by Both Sides of Abortion Debate
A 51-year-old suspect in the shooting death of Dr. George Tiller named as Scott Roeder was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and two charges of aggravated assault, according to the Associated Press. Internet postings showed that someone using the name Scott Roeder had expressed anti-abortion opinions and had singled out Tiller for criticism, said Guardian.co.uk.
Roeder: Pro-life Activist or Politically Extreme?
Although Roeder appears to be connected with extremist political groups, he is not with the mainstream pro-life movement, reports LifeNews.com.
The Guardian reported that a post made to a pro-life site in May 2007 by someone using the name "Scott Roeder" in response to a planned vigil to "pray for an end to George R Tiller's late-term abortion business
"Bless everyone for attending and praying in May to bring justice to Tiller and the closing of his death camp. Sometime soon, would it be feasible to organize as many people as possible to attend Tillers [sic] church (inside, not just outside) to have much more of a presence and possibly ask questions of the Pastor, Deacons, Elders and members while there? Doesn't seem like it would hurt anything but bring more attention to Tiller."
Roeder Tracked From Church, Arrested Near Home
Churchgoers in Wichita were reported to have recognized the gunman whom they said attended services three or four times. Law enforcement was said to identify the killer via the license plate of the car he was driving, noted by witnesses. Police found a photo of Roeder who’d previously been convicted for criminal use of explosives. The conviction was overturned on appeal, according to The Wichita Eagle.
Shock From Both Sides of the Abortion Issue
"Whoever murdered George Tiller has done a gravely wicked thing," said Princeton law professor Robert P. George in National Review. Pro-lifers, who were also shocked by the murder are saying that pro-life means all life and condemn Tiller’s murder and any exploitation of his murder for political gain. Tiller is the fourth doctor to have been killed in abortion-related attacks since 1973 and the first in more than a decade, according to the Kansas Star. Wichita police increased security last night at Tiller’s Wichita clinic.
Dr. Tiller's Controversial Late-term Abortions
Under Kansas law, late-term abortions can be performed even though the child would be viable outside the mother's womb, but only if two independent doctors agree that not to do so would put the mother at risk of irreparable harm, including mental or emotional distress, by giving birth. The procedure has long been criticized by Americans as inhumane to the unborn child, including popular Democratic United States Senator from NY, the late Daniel “Pat” Moynihan, who said that the procedure was “just too close to infanticide.” Dr. Tiller was seen on CNN saying in an interview that late-term abortion was "just part of abortion."
As one of the few remaining doctors, nationwide, who still performed later-term abortions, Tiller had been a high-profile target under constant hostile scrutiny and continuous lawsuits and described by Rev. Katherine Ragsdale in the Washington Times, as "a saint and a martyr."
In March, Tiller was acquitted of 19 criminal charges of performing illegal abortions, specifically, violating a state law requiring second opinions before performing late term abortions. The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts recently made public a similar complaint filed in December of 2008.
Dr. George Tiller
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What do you think about this article?
- Prominent Abortion Dr. George Tiller Murdered
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- Kansas Abortion Provider Found Not Guilty
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