Scott Roeder trial: Anti-abortion extremist couldn’t kill the law

Sometimes it feels like normal, law-abiding people have to work to exhaustion just to stay in place. Today was one of those days.

A Kansas jury found Scott Roeder guilty of first degree murder. The issue for anti-abortion crusaders wasn’t if he killed or whether it was premeditated – both of which are undisputed facts. The issue was whether Roeder was justified in murdering abortion doctor George Tiller in cold blood.

Some anti-choice activists continue (albeit anonymously on the Internet) to rally around Roeder, insisting that his was an act of heroism. In their world, Tiller was a murderer of unborn babies and therefore, he deserved to be killed.

These “pro-lifers” who stood behind and encouraged Roeder are not the folks you see at peace marches protesting the killing of innocent babies in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan or Pakistan. The “Pro-life” moniker should be changed to “Pre-life” to differentiate them from people who honor life in word and deed -- from birth to grave.

It’s sobering to think what might have followed if the Kansas jury had acquitted Scott Roeder today. Some would see it as encouragement for an open season on abortion doctors, Planned Parenthood clinic staff and others who already are threatened daily.

We have the obligation to learn more about those in Roeder’s supporting network, such as members of  the bizarre “Army of God” who believe it is justifiable to kill based on personal beliefs. We’ve seen that blind anger lead to acts of domestic terrorism too often to ignore.

According to a GQ article based on interviews with Roeder (which I found disturbingly sympathetic to the killer), he was angry with politicians who kept promising they’d end abortion but failed to do so.

The right-to-life movement should have long ago gotten a clue that they’ve been duped by the GOP and Blue Dogs. While extensive energy and resources must be spent fending off proposals to restrict reproductive freedom, calculating politicians use the abortion issue as an election wedge tool. According to the National Abortion Federation, about 500 bills restricting abortion were introduced last year.

For decades they’ve dangled abortion like a carrot before an increasingly violent minority that is frustrated to the breaking point.

Today a Kansas jury stood on the side of justice. Maybe tomorrow duplicitous politicians will turn down their dangerous rhetoric that stokes the dreams of vigilantes and extremists.

For excellent coverage of this important case go to the Wichita Eagle and reporter Ron Sylvester’s blog, “What the judge ate for breakfast.”