Abortionist shot to death in church

Controversial figure didn't survive second attempt on life

Published: Saturday, May 30, 2009

Updated: Monday, June 8, 2009 19:06

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George Tiller was shot and killed by Scott Roeder Sunday morning while attending church. The Wichita-based doctor was a controversial figure in the national abortion debate.

Tiller, 67, was inside Reformation Lutheran Church at 7601 E. 13th when witnesses say he was shot at 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

Roeder, a 51-year-old Johnson County man, was arrested by Wichita Police and is being held without bail on one count of first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly threatening two other people. Roeder was seen vandalizing a Kansas City women's health clinic called Aid for Women on two separate occasions last week, a week before Dr. Tiller was killed and a day before his murder, according to NPR news program Democracy Now!

Women's Health Care Services at 5701 E. Kellogg, where Tiller worked, is one of the few clinics in the country where late-term abortions are performed. The clinic and its staff have endured decades of anti-abortion protests, lawsuits and illegal violence that resulted in a 1993 shooting attempt on Tiller's life and most recently in thousands of dollars worth of vandalism.

About 400 people gathered in Old Town Square in Wichita Sunday evening to honor Tiller, founder of the state's largest pro-choice group ProKanDo. He is the fourth doctor killed in the U.S. as a result of anti-abortion fanatics.
Keep updated on this story at kstatecollegian.com.

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Lucy

Fri Jun 5 2009 23:35

Does anyone actually think killling Dr. Tiller will save any 'babies'?? It won't. Now, Kansas women will have t travel to Boulder, Lincoln, Norman, or Tulsa. Dr. Tiller died because he helped women despite the threats, intimidation, and violence.

Lucy

Fri Jun 5 2009 23:29

I went to KSU before Roe Wade. Illegal abortions were done in cheap motels and frat house basements. Women were lucky if it was a med student trying to make extra money, but sometimes it wasn't. Word would pass around campus to avoid certain names. Women should always stand up and demand that our right to make personal private decisions remain safe and legal. contrary to what some believe, women are not stupid and are quite capable of making their own reproductive decisions.

Loren Price

Wed Jun 3 2009 16:43

Hokay, so this Dr. Tiller was a late-term abortion provider. Abortions after 22 weeks are not performed for anyone who just woke up one day and decided they didn't want to have a baby anymore. These women that went to him were PLANNING ON HAVING THE BABY before they found out that there was life threatening complications, or that the fetus was severely compromised, and would have had no quality of life. Based on many of the comments here trying to pin the blame on someone, it’s clear that many of you were quick to judge this man without a real understanding of why these procedures are sometimes necessary. Yes, it's a terribly sad thing, but to eliminate this practice would be a death sentence for many women who were trying to have a baby.

Angry Alum

Wed Jun 3 2009 14:36

All of the "Christians" in here are pathetic. A man lost his life inside of a CHURCH. Considering how Jesus reacted when there were money changers in the temple, I highly doubt he would be too pleased to see a man murdered in cold blood inside of a CHURCH.

Think about this "Christians": Tiller had a wife, a children, grandchildren, friends, extended family members, etc. who are GRIEVING. So what is the apparent "Christian" reaction? To SPIT, to MOCK, to DERIDE., to TAKE JOY IN THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS.

Guess what, "Christians" you're NOT Jesus (though I'm sure some of you think you are). For those of you saying things like "glad to hear they killed him" or "good riddance" I hope you enjoy an eternal suffering in hell, where you belong.

*Nota bene: I fully realize that most Christians are horrified by the murder of Tiller (in that whole two wrongs don't make a right line of thinking), so my angry diatribe was directed to those who--unlike Jesus--know no compassion.

Debjani

Wed Jun 3 2009 12:07

Abortion, in no means, is a crime! Its the choice of the mother--if she can afford to raise the baby or not. If not, why on earth should she bring it? Its better to abort it. Yes, i agree that its the fault of that female and the male who didn't think about all this before they get laid! So, the problem lies in the lifestyle, where people gets laid (without protection, results are babies, STDs,AIDS) without thinking of the consequences. So, instead of curing the cause, you are trying to change the aftermath!! The Doc was trying to help some women who opted not to bring extra burden at that time! Why on earth the Doc is killed! CHANGE THE WAY YOU LIVE!!

and to one of the above: we DO NOT come from heaven/God!! We come from our parents! And its no asexual process that babies are born! only amoebas and yeasts make babies asexually! we come from fertilization! its mere chemistry!and there is no heaven either, where after death, you think you might escape!!

Your name

Tue Jun 2 2009 15:42

Don't you people understand, the mother's are the ones who made this choice, not Dr. Tiller.

Your name

Tue Jun 2 2009 13:39

Quintron,

Dooode, obviously they don't teach biology wherever the heck you're from. Humans are way too complex of an organism to be classified a virus. Don't eat me bro!

Paul

Tue Jun 2 2009 13:33

Quintron,

I've often suspected that there were human eating aliens among us. Thank you for confirming that. As far as your comment about humans being a virus, I have to strongly disagree. Humans were put here by God, (who is alive and well) and this is just a temporary place until some of us go to heaven. The earth is here for us to use until that happens. Calling us a virus is just rude, and show's your complete lack of understanding the bible. Mr. Tiller was a mass murderer and all of those unborn babies are having a toast up in heaven right now. I pray for your soul.

P.S.- do aliens have souls?

Quintron

Tue Jun 2 2009 13:12

You pathetic humans are nothing more than a self-destructive virus on the face of the earth. I suppose you think the world should be populated until the point there is nothing left but humans and you all starve to death. Luckily for me I eat humans, so my species will flourish while we watch you all die of cancer. Your god is dead. Mr. Tiller was your only hope.

Your name

Tue Jun 2 2009 11:29

Just because this doctor is "killing babies" does not mean that it is his choice. The mothers were going to him, he was not going to them asking to kill their babies. Why kill this man? He was only doing his job and even though not everyone agrees with abortion, it was just his job! If you kill this man, shouldn't all the women who chose to kill their own babies be killed as well? I do not agree with abortion, but it's a choice and this man should not have been killed over this.

Your name

Mon Jun 1 2009 15:26

As far as I can tell he wasn't going around and aborting unsuspecting mothers. How can all of you guys put the blame squarely on this guy and not the Mothers that got prego in the first place. So it's not OK to abort a baby, but its OK to want your baby aborted. This sounds a little crazier that the shooting itself. So when will all the mothers go on trial for killing their babies? Should we find them and shoot them as well? His business was satisfying a need in America and until that need went away or was deemed illegal he was doing no wrong.

Mon Jun 1 2009 14:45

Murder is murder, regardless if the victim is a killer or an innocent child. The “justification” that some are embracing is he was in fact a cold blooded killer of young children. His actions led to his demise and it is unfortunate, but he was long aware of the potential risk. (For the record, pro-life is not a choice to be voted on, murder is murder. Also consider if the person that shot him was a father to one of the murdered children, would that change anyone’s outlook?) I guess he was just a very late term abortion.