Abortion Providers Fearful

In suburban Virginia, Dr. Herb Jones, a veteran abortion provider, has prepared the best he can. He's not comfortable with it, but he now owns a pistol. His home has a security system. His assistants perform security checks. And still, he admits, it may not be enough.

"With the modern day rifles and all, you can't hide but so much," the doctor says.

One year ago this Saturday, Dr. Barnett Slepian, an abortion provider in upstate New York, was not safe even in his own home. He was shot with a rifle while standing in his kitchen. He died in his wife's arms. It was the fifth such sniper attack in four years on abortion doctors.

And they have all occurred precisely at this time of year.

And all, say authorities, were the work of one man: James Charles Kopp, a veteran anti-abortion protestor who is still on the run, still considered a threat. The FBI promoted him to their Most Wanted list in June.

"We know that he's used approximately 29 different aliases and false identifications," says FBI Director Louie Freeh.

Why Kopp has chosen the last week of October through Nov. 11 for his attacks has never been clear, but it is a period now etched in the minds of abortion doctors around the country. Security has been heightened at every clinic in the U.S. and Canada.

"Obviously we have all had to take more security precautions which are expensive," says Dr. Jones.

Each of Kopp's previous sniper attacks have shared the trademark of exhaustive advance planning. He scouted his targets for days in advance, sometimes weeks. But that was before the FBI knew who he was and flashed his picture across America. Now that he's known, the question is: Will it stop him from shooting again?