Lawless Minority

I was appalled when I read in The Times that members of the anti-abortion group known as Operation Rescue broke into the locked office of a doctor in Poway and terrorized his staff and patients. I was further disturbed when I read in another newspaper that it took 143 sheriff’s deputies and police officers to arrest 130 protesters for failure to disperse and trespassing.

The blockaders’ tactics take up police time that should be spent on existing crime problems. The San Diego Police Department has reported that gang violence increases when there is a blockade because fewer officers are available that day. It is also my understanding that deputies, who were called in from various parts of the county, were paid overtime for their services.

The opinion polls show that the majority of citizens are pro-choice, and it is this law-abiding majority that has to pay, through its taxes, for police protection for the victims of a lawless minority. Regardless of one’s position on abortion, these illegal actions must be halted.

LOREEN S. CLOW

San Marcos