Scott Roeder, the man who admitted to killing Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller back in May, has been convicted of first degree murder. He faces a life sentence in prison, with the possibility of parole in 25 years.
Roeder did not try to deny the charges. He admitted to the killing and testified in court that he acted in order to stop Tiller from harming anymore unborn children. It was an intriguing defense. But expectedly, it did not work. The jury took just 37 minutes of deliberation to reach a verdict.
Some will want to debate whether or not Roeder was justified in this killing. I don’t intend to discuss that here. But there are some other observations I’d like to make:
- Scott Roeder never should have been put in the position to make this choice. Again, I’m not defending him. He took the law into his own hands and he is now facing the consequences for his actions. But had the government outlawed the heinous practice of abortion, Roeder’s actions would have been unnecessary. George Tiller justly deserved to face captial punishment for his murder of tens of thousands of helpless, innocent human beings. But sadly, many of this country’s elected officials support and defend abortion. This is a sad and terrible reality.
- George Tiller, a legacy of service? Tiller’s family said they wanted him to be “remembered for his legacy of service to women, the help he provided for those who needed it…” Service to women? Sure, these women came to his clinic through their own free will. But the reason they came was to have him exterminate the child growing inside of them. His “service to women” was not commendable! And providing help to those who needed it? What about the unborn child whose own mother wanted to have killed? Who would need more help those babies? No, Tiller’s legacy is that of a murderer, one who methodically and deliberately ended the lives of tens of thousands of children. That is his legacy.
- George Tiller, the family man? His family also wanted him to be remembered for “the love and happiness he provided us as a husband, father and grandfather.” I’m sorry. I just cannot understand how someone with their own children and grandchildren can carry out an abortion, let alone tens of thousands. Surely he believed his own children were special. Surely he recognized his grandchildren as a gift. (I don’t know this, but his family’s comment suggests it.) If this were so, how could he, in good conscience, support his family through the shedding of blood of innocent children and grandchildren? How can that be done?
- George Tiller, the churchgoer? Roeder killed Tiller inside the building of the church where the abortion doctor was a member. If Tiller was a religious man, how did he not know that man is made “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27)? And how could this church accept a man like Tiller as a member? Would they accept a professional hitman into their fellowship as well? After all, this is essentially what Tiller was. It’s just that his work is somehow allowed under the law.
The sad part of this is that the focus has shifted to Scott Roeder and his killing of an abortion doctor. What about the tens of thousands of babies that were killed by George Tiller? Many want to pretend that abortion has nothing to do with this case. The prosecution avoided the a-word. But that’s what this is all about.
It’s high time that the government made a strong commitment to protecting the lives of these innocent, unborn children. Civil authorities have both the right and the responsibility to keep abortions from occurring, and to punish, even execute, those who brazenly take the lives of these babies. If the government were to do this, then a man like Scott Roeder would not have felt the need to take it upon himself to protect the unborn from ruthless murderers like George Tiller.
-Andy Sochor
