The Murder of Dr. George Tiller

On Sunday, May 31st, 2009, in a Wichita, Kansas church, a virulent anti-abortionist walked up to Dr. Tiller and shot him in the head. Dr. Tiller was a Kansas physician who, along with two other American gynecologists, performed late abortions. These were often done into the third trimester, as late as 30+ weeks. It's been reported that "99%" of these procedures were performed for fetal anomalies, such as genetic disorders, potential birth defects, etc. I somehow doubt this is true, for I've referred several patients with normal pregnancies to these physicians. Not that this lessens the importance of such procedures for women in emotional distress. Some patients, especially young teens (and their parents), feel that their lives might be ruined by carrying a fetus to term and having a child, either raising it or giving it up for adoption. Right or wrong, undergoing one of these procedures is a difficult and traumatic personal decision.

Regardless of what one feels about late abortions, most reasonable people would agree that no one deserves to be shot for performing them. Nonetheless, several abortion providers have been killed in the last two decades, under the rationale the murders are "saving the unborn" by killing the late abortion physicians. That brings me to the point of this essay. Speech, when heard and absorbed by troubled ears, can be terribly destructive. A number of anti-abortion political and cable TV comentators have used words that might motivate borderline personality types. A well-known talk show host, even prior to Dr. Tiller's murder, called Tiller an "executioner" who had executed tens of thousandsof babies. Others suggested that Dr. Tiller deserved to be murdered, or that it was fitting that the "Tiller the Terminator" had himself been "terminated."

This vile hate speech is no different than shouting fire in a crowded theater. It incites, instigates, and provokes negative behavior and should not be tolerated in civilized societies. As I've said in previous blogs, there's nothing wrong with legal anti-abortion protest, even when offensive. But if one detests late-term abortion, the remedy is to change the law -- not shoot the doctor.