Man Confesses to Killing Abortion Provider

Scott Roeder Tells AP He Shot Dr. George Tiller Because "Pre-born Children's Lives Were in Imminent Danger"

(AP)  Defiant and unapologetic, a man accused of shooting a Kansas abortion provider confessed to the slaying Monday, telling The Associated Press that he killed the doctor to protect unborn children.

Scott Roeder, 51, of Kansas City, Missouri, spoke to the AP in a telephone call from jail, saying he plans to argue at his trial that he was justified in shooting Dr. George Tiller at the abortion provider's Wichita church in May.

"Because of the fact preborn children's lives were in imminent danger this was the action I chose. ... I want to make sure that the focus is, of course, obviously on the preborn children and the necessity to defend them," Roeder said.

"Defending innocent life — that is what prompted me. It is pretty simple," he said.

Roeder is charged with one count of first-degree murder in Tiller's death and two counts of aggravated assault for allegedly threatening two ushers who tried to stop him during the May 31 melee in the foyer of the doctor's church. Roeder has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in January.

In a more than 30-minute interview with the AP, Roeder did not apologize for the slaying.

"No, I don't have any regrets because I have been told so far at least four women have changed their minds, that I know of, and have chosen to have the baby," Roeder said. "So even if one changed her mind it would be worth it. No, I don't have any regrets."

His confession came on the same day abortion opponents across the nation release their "Defensive Action Statement 3rd Edition" that proclaims any force that can be used to defend the life of a "born child is legitimate to defend the life of an unborn child." The statement's 21 signers demand Roeder's jurors be allowed to consider the "question of when life begins" in deciding whether lethal force was justified.

Among the signers are Eric Rudolph, James Kopp and Shelley Shannon — all serving prison time for targeting abortion doctors.

Lee Thompson, attorney for the Tiller family and executor of his estate, has said allowing such a defense would "invite chaos and be tantamount to anarchy." The Kansas Supreme Court rejected such a defense in a 1993 ruling over an abortion clinic trespassing case.

Tiller, 67, had been the target of relentless protests for most of the 36 years that he performed abortions at his Wichita clinic, where he practiced as one of the nation's few providers of late-term abortions. He was shot in both arms in 1993 and his clinic was bombed in 1986.

[toldyouso21]

GOD IS PRO CHOICE.

Men are concerned with life here on earth and the possible 70 to 100 years of it if people grow up to an old age.But when faced with eternal life, God does not press, coerce, or force his views. He still allows choice.

"Choose you this day whom ye shall serve, for you cannot serve both God and mammon"

Funny how when faced with 70 years and a stake in a world God told Christians NOT to conform to--So called Christians are very involved in trying to force government into the most private part of a woman's life...but when it comes to eternal life and the more important stake of the soul--God insists that every man must choose for himself.

Get enlightened people--choice is a very Christian thing, no one can be saved due to coercion--not even unborn children--those who try it net very abused and often, later dead children or...later dead pregnant women who do anything anyway to not have what they do not want.

You cannot force women to grow and feed something within their own bodies that they do not want--women are not slaves--no one can deposit seed in them then force them to cultivate and grow it out--it is personal because it takes place in them--if the far right does not want that--then invent artificial wombs--that way, perhaps you can force all women who are pregnant give up their fertilized eggs to the womb machine, though that also is debatable, since many women do not want to give up a part of themselves to anyone, and the egg is a one time gift each month (unless twins or more) from a woman. Whereas the man's one lucky spermmmm was a one time shot in the dark among at least 300K being released. Because the woman ultimately has to carry this result, in her body--it is her choice. Her body, her egg and if she does not tell the man about a pregnancy--he neither knows or feels a thing.

[brianbwb-2009]

So Roeder, not even licensed to practice medicine, performed an abortion in the 268th trimester of Dr. Tiller.

About as late term as it gets, don't you think?

Just like the rest of the far right, he claims protection under laws that he himself breaks.

[Newster1]

The moment it comes out of the womb into 'our' world it still requires its hosts interaction to survive"

That makes it a PARASITE

[slownewsday-05]

Once again, it's sad to see the anti-choice crowd try to pass themselves off as "pro-life".

At the most, they are "pro-birth".


.

[CaliforniaConservative]

Once again, it's sad to see the anit-life crowd try to pass themselves off as "pro choice".

At the most, they are "pro abortion".

Hmm, that was easy. No wonder the libs get so much air time.

[slownewsday-05]

Well, I'm not a lib. I just think it's humorous that you claim to want small government, yet want to give them control over women's bodies.

You aren't really a conservative, ARE you?

And if you're so "pro-life", are you against war?

[CaliforniaConservative]

Well, let's see, you talk about your political affiliation, claims I never made about the size of government, and wants I never identified.

Then you add one and one and get three and conclude that conservatives can't be pro-life, but in the event that they are, they better not support a war for any reason right or wrong.

Did you take your meds this morning?

[brianbwb-2009]

To CaliforniaConservative

Your word play is not at all accurate, or even clever.

A totally objective definition of the "pro abortion" movement contains no language requiring abortions, rather it is the choice of a female whether she will give birth, or not. The "not" part is still in the equation, can you say that a choice is given by the anti-abortion advocates, seeing as how that choice does not exist?

Also, using the logic of the right, every time an egg is fertilized, millions of "potential human beings" are discarded, and every time a man has a "wet dream" millions of "potential humans" die.

So why not make ejaculation illegal, for the same reasons you cite for abortions?

[brianbwb-2009]

To CaliforniaConservative

"...conclude that conservatives can't be pro-life, but in the event that they are, they better not support a war for any reason right or wrong..."

This is a consistent position, because there is no "right reason" for war anymore.

We, for example have the right to self defense, but we also have the means to deal with any country that decides to declare war against us, we can vaporize that country, without sending a single soldier to the field, thus, no war.

Any other reason other than self defense is not a valid reason, and seeing as how we can defend ourselves so totally, there exists no actual right reason for war.

Gus Savage was correct when he said that war, as a tool of foreign policy is obsolete, and events since his statement have proven the truth of his statement.

There has been no "war" that we can say we have "won" since WW2, and even that one still has remnants that are not finished, and there will be none in the future.

[slownewsday-05]

by CaliforniaConservative November 10, 2009 1:38 AM EST
"Well, let's see, you talk about your political affiliation, claims I never made about the size of government, and wants I never identified."

Your name says you're a conservative - that usually implies you like small government. Right?


"Then you add one and one and get three and conclude that conservatives can't be pro-life, but in the event that they are, they better not support a war for any reason right or wrong."

I didn't make the conclusion - I asked the question. Seems like I hit pretty close to home.

So you aren't really "pro-life". Understand now?


.

[BeckieBest]

Another daily illustration of how rabid and insane the right wing has become in this country.

[aldon62]

There is not anything to consider here. He killed someone that provided LEGAL abortions, what he did was ILLEGAL! Fry the Bass=turd.

[dscott2009]

When this SOB stands in judgment before GOD...I truly wonder how that "I killed this man to protect the unborn defense goes for him."

Good luck with that one Scott...

[CaliforniaConservative]

I'n not sure Doc Tiller will have much luck standing in that same situation saying that he was just trying to protect feminist rights.

[dscott2009]

Cali Con...you may be right as well. They might both share the same eternal hot tub, but how does committing murder justify committing murder?

[CaliforniaConservative]

I guess that's what they mean when they say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[CaliforniaConservative]

It's my understanding that this Tiller character has participated in nearly 60,000 abortions.

[Newster1]

excellent! thats 60,000 fewer homes that need to be built over farm land, 60,000 fewer cars on te road, 60,000 fewer mouths for this already overpopulated planet to feed, 60,000 less connections to the sewer, water, electric grid, trash disposals etc etc etc
THANK YOU for helping save whats left of the planet from this human infestation doctor!

[nmfaxman]

Why is it not called conception day?

[oreo1412]

I personally think that until men are the ones pushing the baby out or lying in the stirrups getting scraped out, why should they even talk about abortion? They just don't have the stake in childbirth that women do. Nobody is telling them that you must have the baby and give it up or you must have the abortion if you want to come home, like women were told before birth control was made available to single women. See, it used to be that unmarried women could not even get a contraceptive, even a diaphragm. And pregnant girls were sent away from home to give birth and surrender their babies under tremendous pressure to give those babies up. Other women had illegal abortions that sometimes scarred or killed them because unmarried women would face severe societal consequences from having babies out of wedlock. Yep, them were the good old days, back we were a moral country and everybody was full of Christian goodness. Remember that anybody over 40?

[rational_1]

Following your logic of men not having any say in abortion because they never personally deal with childbirth or abortion, one could then argue that only slaveholders should have been deciding whether or not slavery should be allowed.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01]

by rational_1 November 9, 2009 11:28 PM EST
Following your logic of men not having any say in abortion because they never personally deal with childbirth or abortion, one could then argue that only slaveholders should have been deciding whether or not slavery should be allowed.
==============================================================

Not very logical...or rational. A better analogy would be the slave ship crews not having a say in slavery. By equating slave holders with men in the abortion equation, what are the women?

[kansas1946]

If anyone knew Dr. Tiller, then they would understand what a tragedy this really is. This little worm that murdered him will die in prison, a forgotten man, but none of us will forget Dr. Tiller who stood against these terrorists for years to help woman.

[Overruled1]

Yeah, right ......if there's a God, He is frying as sure as the guy who shot him will.

[doctor_know]

Yeah, right.... and if there's a tooth fairy, then we will all be getting lots of cash for our teeth.... but there's not!

[Zeus2095]

This entire situation is out of control. What kind of country do we live in where someone can shoot and kill someone and others say it's ok because he was protecting an unborn child.

It's been said before, pro-life people seem to care and awful lot about the unborn but they don't really care too much for those already here! Most christian conservaties I KNOW aren't too concerned with helping the people already walking this earth who need help. The Ones I KNOW only care about themselves.

The other thing that frustrates me, is if Jesus is their example of how to act, they are failing miserably. I don't think Jesus ran around killing people. If he did, please someone find it in the bible and show it to me because I don't think he did that when he walked the earth.

I'm concerned that our country is going the way of a theocracy. I'm not a religious person and I don't really want someone else religious views shoved down my throat. Yes I know the people who are anti-abortion will immediately say why shouldn't they advocate for what they believe in because it's their right as a citizen. The problem is their views and rights always come at the expense of someone else's rights and views??? That's not right.

Believe how you want and leave other people to do the same!

[Zeus2095]

This entire situation is out of control. What kind of country do we live in where someone can shoot and kill someone and others say it's ok because he was protecting an unborn child.

It's been said before, pro-life people seem to care and awful lot about the unborn but they don't really care too much for those already here! Most christian conservaties I KNOW aren't too concerned with helping the people already walking this earth who need help. The Ones I KNOW only care about themselves.

The other thing that frustrates me, is if Jesus is their example of how to act, they are failing miserably. I don't think Jesus ran around killing people. If he did, please someone find it in the bible and show it to me because I don't think he did that when he walked the earth.

I'm concerned that our country is going the way of a theocracy. I'm not a religious person and I don't really want someone else religious views shoved down my throat. Yes I know the people who are anti-abortion will immediately say why shouldn't they advocate for what they believe in because it's their right as a citizen. The problem is their views and rights always come at the expense of someone else's rights and views??? That's not right.

Believe how you want and leave other people to do the same!

[kevjustice]

Many conservatives who oppose abortion also oppose health care reform.They cry for the unborn babies that they say die but not for the 18,000+ living people that die every year because they do not have health insurance.

[oreo1412]

Sometimes the women who seek late-term abortions have lives that are so out of control that they do not know how far along they are. So many are drug addicts. The very welfare queens Republicans fear and detest, yet do not want having abortions, and still do not want them to game the system by having more babies to collect more welfare. Geez, they just want it all perfect and perfect means exactly the way they think. Let me know when you Republicans get such a perfect world going, that one without messy things like this that don't fall into line with your beliefs because humans are involved. Apparently only liberals have unexpected pregnancies and abortions. Never conservatives and Republicans. They never do anything that isn't approved by their interpretation of the Bible, right?

[ladyang]

Amazing, how some of the butt ugliest folks are pro-life!

[alanrobisch]

Yeah and its amazing how evil many pro choice individuals are. A head of a planned parenthood concverted when she saw a sonogram of an abortion. She was appalled by what she saw.

[kevjustice]

Ugly with eyes filled with hate.

[gmayland]

This isn't even a political issue. The man MURDERED a man who's profession was completely protected by the law. It doesn't matter if you agree with that law or not, the Dr. did NOTHING illegal, and he was murdered, cold-blooded, by a citizen with absolutely no legal or political authority. I may not agree with a lot of US policy, but the fact that anyone is debating whether or not Roeder should be prosecuted is ridiculous.

[P0STING_AWAY]

by mikesmith56 November 9, 2009 4:30 PM EST
You people don't realize that Dr. Tiller DIDN'T JUST kill babies when the mother's life was in danger,.................
The fact is, most people agree with abortion ONLY when the mother's life is at risk as I do.........................

MIKEY - The point that YOU are not getting is this is NONE OF YOUR
BUSINESS. OPPOSED TO ABORTION? THEN - DON'T HAVE ONE.

You and the rest of your MoronGelical brethren (AKA America's Taliban)
need to get your long/pointy noses OUT OF EVERYBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS.

[alanrobisch]

Just like you should. Modern liberalism supports some of the most imtrusive involvement on how people live their lives short of a totalitarian dictatorship that I have ever seen. No Christian should occupy public office and if they do how dare they make decisions based on what they believe, Of course its okay for an atheist or agnostic to base their decisions on strictly personal feelings but if the word christ or religion comes up heaven forfend.

[ToolMangler1]

by P0STING_AWAY November 9, 2009 6:14 PM EST
"need to get your long/pointy noses OUT OF EVERYBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS."



Why don't you follow your own advice? If you don't like it, move on.
You seem to love telling anti-abortionists what they can say and also Christians. Putting down people seems to be your big thing.

[doctor_know]

so ToolMangler1, you are supporting the guy who murdered the doctor?

[hockeymom441]

This is why "pro-life" people never convince anyone to oppose abortion... b/c they justify "killing lives" with killing lives. They're their own worst enemy.

Just look like nutjobs, rather then focusing their energy on promoting adoption and providing safe, PEACEFUL options for mothers-to-be.

Oh - and picketing outside abortion clinics w/ gross pictures and yelling - curious what, exactly, is the goal of that approach... to literlaly scare women away!?! Nice (useless) tactic, morons.

Newsflash conservatives: NO ONE LIKES ABORTION. If you'd stop yelling and being violently righteous, and think about this... try to come up w/ some good alternatives... rather than just parading around in violent and venemous opposition, maybe no one would seek abortions.

[haterhaterr]

NO BAIL!
This monster cannot be allowed back onto the streets!
And death is too good for this scum. He needs to rot in jail for the rest of his life.
Or send him to Gitmo with his fellow terrorists!