The Times’ reaction to Dr. Tiller’s 1993 shooting

Posted June 1, 2009

Dr. George Tiller was no stranger to violence. Before he was killed while attending church on Sunday, the Kansas physician both vilified and admired for his reproductive health practice, which was known for performing late-term abortions, was shot outside his Wichita clinic in 1993.

A few days after the shooting, The Times published the following editorial in response.

Saturday August 21, 1993
Protest Beyond All Reason
In the question of anti-abortion tactics, Alabama archbishop has it right.

Once again, a doctor who performs abortions has been shot. Dr. George Tiller was wounded Thursday as he entered his car outside the clinic where he works in Wichita, Kan. This is an utter outrage.

Tiller, 52, suffered minor wounds in both arms; he was treated at a hospital and released. Tiller was luckier than Dr. David Gunn, who was shot to death in March as he got out of his car during a protest at a women's clinic in Pensacola, Fla. The man who surrendered and told police that he had shot Gunn is an anti-abortion extremist who said he had prayed for the doctor to "give his life to Jesus."

The woman charged in shooting of Tiller, Rachelle Shannon, 37, of Klamath Falls, Ore., allegedly was in Wichita to join an anti-abortion demonstration there.

Those who oppose abortion have the right to peacefully protest what they consider a moral wrong. But legitimate protest does not encompass murder, attempted murder or other forms of violence. Responsible leaders should say just that.

There were no such responsible statements this week from Don Treshman, founder of the anti-abortion group Rescue America. In response to the Tiller shooting, Treshman said: "We are sure to see more of these incidents. This shooting, while unfortunate, will result in babies' lives being saved." That's hardly an outright condemnation. If anything, it is barely veiled encouragement for future violence. That is indefensible; such attitudes only underscore the need for federal laws that protect clinic workers from attack.

In contrast to Treshman, a Roman Catholic archbishop in Alabama knew where to draw the line between advocacy against abortion and advocacy for murder of doctors. A priest, David Trosch, tried to place an ad in the Mobile Register that endorsed the killing of doctors who perform abortions. The ad showed a man pointing a gun at a doctor holding a knife over a pregnant woman. Two words accompanied the picture: "Justifiable homicide." On hearing of the ad, Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb issued an ultimatum to Father Trosch: Either recant or resign. This unequivocal condemnation of the sentiment of the ad was the only appropriate response.