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Tiller Is Eighth Murdered In Attacks On Abortion Providers
The killing of George Tiller in Kansas Sunday was the latest act in three decades of violence aimed at abortion providers. Although the violence dates back to the years immediately following Roe v. Wade in 1973, the first murder occurred in 1993.
Tiller is the eighth person killed in attacks targeting abortion providers, according to data compiled by the National Abortion Federation, the association of U.S. and Canadian abortion providers.
The first was David Gunn, who was killed outside his abortion clinic in Pensacola, Florida, in 1993 by a man who stepped out of a group of protesters and shot Gunn in the back. The shooter, Michael Griffin, is currently serving a life term for the murder.
Four people were killed in 1994, including a doctor and his escort at a second Pensacola, Florida, clinic. Two receptionists were killed at a pair of Brookline, MA, clinics that year.
In 1998, an off-duty officer died in the bombing of a Birmingham, AL, clinic. And Barnett Slepian, an obstetrician in New York state, was killed by a sniper's bullet.
The National Abortion Federation has comprehensive data on violence aimed at abortion providers here.
Late Update: Here's a graphic from the AP (via Newscom) showing violence around the country.
Josh
Zachary
It cannot be repeated enough, all of these people were performing LEGAL services. There is no excuse for the behavior of the antis which demonizes people who ARE DOING NOTHING WRONG.
June 2, 2009 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I recall, conservatives were all indignant when the DOJ released a report about terrorism and violence from wingnuts.
The lack of violence during the Bush years, the recent uptick in vandalism at abortion clinics, and the constant threats on Barack Obama's life show that the DOJ report was entirely right. I think Janet Napolitano deserves an apology.
June 6, 2009 5:16 AM | Reply | Permalink