George Tiller's Alleged Murderer Threatens More Violence

Posted by Tana Ganeva, AlterNet at 12:13 PM on June 8, 2009.

Scott Roeder, the 51-year-old man accused of fatally shooting OB-GYN George Tiller last Sunday, has threatened more violence against abortion providers. In a conversation with the AP, the alleged murderer stated:

"I know there are many other similar events planned around the country as long as abortion remains legal," ... When asked by the AP what he meant and if he was referring to another shooting, he refused to elaborate further.

It’s not clear if Roeder was just mouthing off to get publicity or if the alleged killer was referring to specific events planned by possible accomplices. While it sounds like the former, this time around authorities are thankfully taking the threat seriously and upping protection of abortion facilities:

Justice Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a written statement Sunday that "we take this matter seriously, which is why the Attorney General ordered increased protection of appropriate people and facilities last week."

As many commentators pointed out following Tiller's murder, violent acts by anti-choice extremists are meant to intimidate women's health providers into abandoning abortion services. As Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, pointed out in a statement released following Tiller's death:

Dr. Tiller's murder will send a chill down the spines of the brave and courageous providers and other professionals who are part of reproductive-health centers that serve women across this country. We want them to know that they have our support as they move forward in providing these essential services in the aftermath of the shocking news from Wichita.

And the situation is pretty dire as is. According to some alarming statistics assembled by the Guttmacher Institute:

• The number of U.S. abortion providers declined by 2% between 2000 and 2005 (from 1,819 to 1,787). Eighty-seven percent of all U.S. counties lacked an abortion provider in 2005; 35% of women live in those counties.[2]

• Forty percent of providers offer very early abortions (even before the first missed period) and 96% offer abortion at eight weeks from the last menstrual period. Sixty-seven percent of providers offer at least some second-trimester abortion services (13 weeks or later), and 20% offer abortion after 20 weeks. Only 8% of all abortion providers offer abortions at 24 weeks.[2]

• The proportion of providers offering abortion at four or fewer weeks’ gestation increased from 7% in 1993 to 40% in 2005.[11]

• In 2005, the cost of a nonhospital abortion with local anesthesia at 10 weeks’ gestation ranged from $90 to $1,800; the average amount paid was $413.[2]