It is one thing to loudly proclaim the utter grotesqueness and obvious immorality of a practice that has been accepted by law in this country and then call for its reversal; it is quite another to murder those supporters or doctors of such practices and defies the very nature of the life movement at its foundation. We should never execute judgment or vengeance on those with whom we are in disagreement, even in the face of gross, rampant immorality.

It is also one thing to be in strong disagreement with those of us in the life movement; it is quite another to say that our ‘rhetoric’ or ‘opinions’ are what brought about this murder and then call for the silencing of conservative free speech via the Fairness Doctrine. Just wait, it’s coming.

The Tiller murder has now set a terrible precedent for the abortion debate, amongst other issues. This has not advanced the life movement, but has instead set it back. Killing one doctor does not take care of the root of the problem in the abortion debate, but instead exacerbates the level of outrage against pro-lifers that many on the far-left already hold to.

The far-left media (e.g. Huffington Post, far-left bloggers, etc.) are already using this act as fuel to their insatiable desire to shut down all conversation on this and other issues. There will now be an attempt to use this issue to illogically label pro-lifers as instigators of hate and violence, which absolutely displays the total lack of understanding many pro-abortion advocates possess concerning the pro-life movement.

It is quite unfortunate, frustrating and despicable this act has been carried out. And I honestly do feel for his family. Attorney General Eric Holder is quoted as saying this:

“The murder of Doctor George Tiller is an abhorrent act of violence, and his family is in our thoughts and prayers at this tragic moment. Federal law enforcement is coordinating with local law enforcement officials in Kansas on the investigation of this crime, and I have directed the United States Marshals Service to offer protection to other appropriate people and facilities around the nation. The Department of Justice will work to bring the perpetrator of this crime to justice. As a precautionary measure, we will also take appropriate steps to help prevent any related acts of violence from occurring.

I echo his sentiments and concern for the family and can’t imagine the pain. But here is my larger concern with where this is going. When Holder says, “we will also take appropriate steps to help prevent any related acts of violence from occurring,” does this involve shutting down abortion center demonstrations in general? A shutting down of the freedom to publicly gather in protest, in a nonviolent way? I’ve never been apart of one of these demonstrations, nor do I particularly feel they accomplish all that much, other than publicly vocalizing your opinions, which still doesn’t do all that much to change anything, in my view. But should they be prevented from doing so? Will it be labeled ‘trespassing’ by some authorities? I’m not saying Holder is advocating such things at all. But could it lead to that, through the backdoor, so to speak?

This abhorrent murder, in the name of justice and advancement of the pro-life movement (by breaking the law) has actually set back the abortion conversation. Just when progress was recently made on people’s opinions concerning abortion, someone had to come along and do this. Angering. And because people just don’t think critically anymore, many will illogically correlate speaking out against abortion with violence. Not all will, but surely many already are.

It is unfortunate and extremely saddening for the victim’s family that this has happened. It is also extremely saddening and unfortunate for the millions of children who will never see the light of day because this is an accepted practice in our society. And when people in their anger over this issue take the life of a abortion practioner like Tiller, it will just take that much longer to reverse the Roe v. Wade decision. In addition, it just gives more fuel to the far-left to put the Fairness Doctrine into effect.

Denny Burk has some good quotes from Albert Mohler and Robert George pertaining to this issue: http://www.dennyburk.com/?p=4408