Anti-abortion zealots supporting domestic terrorism have blood on their hands

Today it became totally clear that the man who shot up the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado, Robert Dear, was motivated by a hatred of abortion and those who provide abortions. 

From the New York Times story, "Colorado Shooting Suspect Declares 'I'm Guilty' in Court."

In a bizarre scene at what was expected to be a routine hearing, Robert L. Dear on Wednesday disrupted his first in-person court appearance since a shooting rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic here with angry outbursts, a declaration of his guilt and vehement expressions of his anti-abortion politics.

“I’m guilty. There’s no trial. I’m a warrior for the babies,” Mr. Dear, bearded, unkempt and in leg and arm manacles, shouted during a hearing in which he was charged with 179 felony counts, including first-degree murder. “Let it all come out. The truth!” he exclaimed another time.

Mr. Dear was arrested on Nov. 27 after the attack on the clinic, which left three people dead and nine wounded. He was arrested by the police after a tense standoff.

And it was a vivid reminder of the horror and stakes in the Colorado shooting which was almost immediately eclipsed by the shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. five days later. Aside from Mr. Dear’s reported reference to “no more baby parts” his motivation had remained somewhat unclear.

But in repeated outbursts on Wednesday, he seemed to leave little mystery about his view of the Planned Parenthood attack.

As Judge Gilbert Anthony Martinez of Colorado’s Fourth Judicial District and the lawyers discussed which parties might be affected by a pretrial publicity order, Mr. Dear, 57, shouted: “Could you add the babies that were supposed to be aborted that day? Could you add that to the list?”

Before getting into who, other than Robert Dear, deserves blame for the Planned Parenthood shootings, let's review some facts about abortion in this country.

(1) It is legal. The Supreme Court has determined this.
(2) It is legal for a woman to donate fetal tissue from an abortion for medical research purposes. 
(3) And it is legal for Planned Parenthood, or any other abortion provider, to be reimbursed for the cost of providing that fetal tissue donated with the consent of the woman choosing to have an abortion.

Planned Parenthood hasn't been found to do anything illegal with "selling baby parts," as anti-abortion zealots such as Carly Fiorina, Donald Trump, and other GOP leaders have wrongly claimed. 

So aren't they supporting domestic terrorism, in much the same way as radical Muslims who chant "Death to America!" are supporting Islamic terrorism? 

I don't see much difference here.

Anyone who opposes abortion and calls abortion providers "murderers" is spouting a lie that gives aid and comfort to those who commit violent acts against Planned Parenthood clinics/staff. Like I said, abortion is legal. So obviously no murders are being performed by Planned Parenthood.

Yet wackos like Robert Dear hear these lies come from the mouths of nationally recognized Republican leaders. To my mind, those leaders -- which include a good share of the GOP presidential candidates -- have blood on their hands when violence is committed against an abortion clinic. 

What anti-abortion advocates should do is speak like this:

"Abortion is legal. I wish it wasn't, but it is. Those who provide abortions aren't breaking the law. They are doing what they believe is right, though I personally believe it is wrong. Let's work to elect a president who will appoint justices to the Supreme Court who will overturn Roe v. Wade, thereby making abortion illegal again. Until then, we can peacefully protest against abortion, but we can't interfere with the legal provision of abortions."

Until this happens, until all talk of "murderers," "killers," "selling of baby parts," and such disappears from public discourse about Planned Parenthood, those who fan the flames of violence against abortion providers are partly responsible for the lives lost in clinic attacks.

Comments

[HarryVanderpool]

"Anti-abortion zealots supporting domestic terrorism have blood on their hands."

Brian, after approx. 56,662,169 babies killed since 1973; what do pro abortion domestic terrorists have on their hands?

It isn't powdered sugar or pixy dust; is it?

[Brian Hines]

Harry, abortion is legal. Keep saying this over and over: abortion is legal, abortion is legal.

It isn't baby killing. There are no babies being killed. Unborn fetuses are being aborted.

My sister had a miscarriage once, before she had a live baby. Miscarriages are very common. They happen naturally. My sister didn't feel like her "baby" was killed by the miscarriage, because no baby existed.

So keep remembering: abortion is legal; no baby is killed by an abortion.

[Logan]

What's hard for me to digest from the pro-life point of view is that they are willing to advocate endlessly for a fetus - but traditionally these are the same people that get out on the streets to scream "welfare bums" at single women that against all odds HAD THE BABY! "Hello? Baby=Born - You say you want that no?"

Then why do they vote down, time and time again services that are meant to help people care for their (very much alive) children. Why do they vote to cut housing services, education services, health services and and now even FOOD STAMPS!

Does that sound "pro-life" to you?

We have 16 million children living in poverty in the US today. These children need help LIVING - Doesn't that seem like a more rational, a more moral "pro-life" mission?

There are so many positive ways people with pro-life views can get out there and actually help. I dream of a day the same people screaming "murders and baby killers" - get on board the band wagon of proper sex education and affordable (if not free) birth control. The day they advocate for children's health care - the day they advocate for more resources for families in need.

It's just a dream and I know it. Which is sad. But seriously, hiding behind the facade of morality. Ugh. Please. Stop.

You want to be moral pro-lifers? Great I want you to be one to! Now get out there and do something that proves you give a damn about A CHILDS LIFE and not just the one biological step. Start funding sex education, child welfare and general health care programs for women and children. Man will you suddenly be on top of "moral mountain".

Right now of course I fear you'd need a very good compass to find it.

[yo]

"no baby is killed by an abortion."

Then why is Dr. Kermit Gosnell in prison for murder?

He performed very late term abortions by severing babys' spinal cords. Yes, the babies were not born yet but they were viable human beings because at that stage they could survive outside the womb.

I thought leftists were supposed to be compassionate. You think the babies enjoyed the sensation of having their spinal cords cut?