I can’t agree with your assessment, especially not the idea that Roeder’s actions were “caused” by pro-life apathy.

The pro-life community in Wichita, Kansas, is extremely active. George Tiller’s abortuary was under constant protest, and a lawsuit against Tiller was moving forward in state court.

Of all places, Wichita was one where pro-lifers could feel a sense of optimism. There’s no way to lay the blame for what Roeder did at the feet of the pro-life movement, especially the pro-lifers of Wichita, Kansas.

For more perspective on the legal and philosphical issues here, I recommend this article, “Homicide Justifiable?” by my mother, Ann Scheidler, written in 2003 when Paul Hill was executed for killing an abortionist.

I’m neither a pacifist nor anti-death penalty. As such I understand that muder does not just mean killing another human being. It means killing an innocent human being. Our Founding Fathers who killed to defend liberty were not murderers, nor were our ancestors who killed to end slavery, nor our grandparents who killed to halt the expansion of totalitarianism.
I guess Scott Roeder was wrong to kill George Tiller, but only because it probably didn’t do any good. It was not wrong because Tiller was somehow innocent.

I’m not a legal scholar like Pat so I can’t comment on the legality of Roeder’s act. I’m sure it’s more nuanced than this. But my point is, it is perfectly concieveable that the use of force may someday be the most justifiable option to defend the unborn. We should not hesitate to resort to it if that time comes. As Francis Shaeffer said, we must recognize a “bottom line”.

I hope we never reach that day. But we’ll never really know as long as most pro-lifers are content just watching things go on like usual. Roeder was wrong, but most of us have no leg to stand on. Our apathy caused his outburst.

Every Christian must vote and must encourage fellow Christians to become political candidates.

The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.

Your comment about ‘Roeder killing Tiller saves babies lives’ is not a fact. No one can ever find a good enough reason to justify murder. Murder can’t be justified. Murder is taking the life of another person, no matter who that person is or what they do. Murder is never right and it will never be right. Roeder killing Tiller does not help save babies lives.

Do you have any real numbers about the number of abortions performed at the mill in Wichita? How many were there in the months leading up to what Roeder did, and how many in the months since?

Truthseeker

What babies did Scott Roeder save from abortion? Tiller’s pals Warren Hern and Leroy Carhart were ready and waiting to swoop in and do the abortions he had scheduled — and collect the heft fee.

Given the persistent pro-life presence at Tiller’s Wichita abortuary, these babies’ mothers may have had less an opportunity to be reached before going through with the abortion, thanks to Roeder.

And instead of Tiller going down through legal means—and he was really on the run before he was killed—he’s become a hero. Hern and Carhart are being hailed, too.

How does that help save babies?

—Eric Scheidler