Terrorism in Wichita

By Mustang Bobby

Abortion provider Dr. George Tiller was shot and killed while attending church this morning in Wichita, Kansas. A suspect has been arrested. From The Wichita Eagle:

WICHITA - A suspect in this morning's fatal shooting of George Tiller is in custody and on his way back to Wichita, deputy chief Tom Stolz of the Wichita Police Department said today at a news conference.

The 51-year-old male suspect was arrested about three hours after the shooting without incident near Gardner on Interstate 35.

Tiller, 67, was shot just after 10 a.m. in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church at 7601 E. 13th, where he was a member of the congregation.

Tiller was serving as an usher at the church, one of six ushers listed in the church bulletin. He was handing out bulletins to people going into the sanctuary minutes before being shot.

A church member who did not want to be identified said the gunman threatened another person at the church after the shooting.

I am pretty sure the far-right anti-choice crowd is cautiously condemning this act of terrorism -- which is what it is -- while trying to mitigate it by saying that Dr. Tiller himself was guilty of thousands of murders of the "unborn." They can say "Yes, we condemn this, but..." all they want, they can make all the excuses that they want, and they can pray to whatever god they choose to in thanks for vindication of their beliefs, but Dr. Tiller was practicing medicine within the laws of the State of Kansas and even if he wasn't, the act this morning was nothing less than what we accuse the Taliban and Al-Qaeda of doing and for what we allegedly went to war for.

Now I am sure the far-right will, on cue, play the victim and claim that the act of this terrorist will be used to tar their entire movement. They will say that they can't be responsible for the individual acts of every person that follows their path. They will say that it is a terrible tragedy but Dr. Tiller brought this on himself and that God has rendered His judgment.

Bullshit.

If they don't condemn this unequivocally and without a "Yes, but," and if they don't do everything they can to disavow and work to remove these lone wolves, they are as guilty of terrorism as the man who pulled the trigger. They would expect no less from us should there happen to be an act of terrorism from the left. To paraphrase President Jed Bartlet, until they do, they can get their fat asses out of the public discourse.

I hold Dr. Tiller and his family in the Light.

(Cross-posted from Bark Bark Woof Woof.)