1. Domestic Terrorism: Do Attacks on Abortion Providers Qualify?
Dr. Gregg W. Etter Sr., Ed.D.
University of Central Missouri
Department of Criminal Justice

2. Terrorism Defined
Riley and Hoffman (1995) observed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation defined terrorism as:
“Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives”.

3. The Three Box Theory of Extremist Groups in the U.S.1
Ballot Box 2
Jury Box 3
Cartridge Box

4. Like It or Not, Abortion Is A Legal Act
Since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade that allowed legal abortions in the United States, there has been much controversy about the legality and morality of abortion.
Many of the arguments are political. Efforts to control or limit abortion at the ballot box have met with mixed success when reviewed by the courts.
Many of the arguments are religious.
Some of the actions taken by the protesters have been violent and illegal.

5. National Abortion Federation Statistics
Between there were reported:
6,263 Criminal acts or acts of violence against clinics.
163,744 Acts of Disruption, Threats, etc.
763 Clinic Blockades
33,834 Arrests

6. Army of God
Christian Anti-abortion group that advocates violent action against abortionists.
Founded around 1982.
Produced manual on how to attack abortion providers (now in 3rd edition).
Active in U.S. and Canada.
Believes in leaderless resistance.
Has claimed credit for bombings and shootings of abortion providers.

7. Wichita, Kansas
Typical of the situation were the actions by anti-abortion forces against the abortion clinic operated in Wichita, Kansas by Dr. George Tiller, M.D.

8. Wichita Clinic
On 06/09/86, Tiller’s clinic was bombed damaging property.
The crime was never solved despite extensive investigation by local and federal authorities.

9. Summer of Mercy
In the summer of 1991, for 45 days thousands of protesters from both sides of the argument came to Wichita and held protests in front of abortion clinics in the “Summer of Mercy”.
Many of the protesters were from “Operation Rescue”.

10. Summer cont.
Over 2,600 arrests were made by WPD and United States Marshals enforcing court orders.
Most of the arrestees were given very lenient treatment by the local judiciary in both district and federal courts.

11. Tiller Shooting
On August 19, 1993, abortion provider Dr. George Tiller M.D. was shot and wounded by Rachelle Shelly Shannon in Wichita, Kansas.
While investigating the case, LE officials were searching Shannon’s home and property and found an Army of God manual.
Shannon was convicted of the shooting. Shannon signed the Army of God's statement in support of the actions of Paul Jennings Hill while incarcerated in KSPW

12. Embryonic Jihad Pensacola was also center of protests 1984-94.
1993 Michael Griffin, assassinated Dr. David Gunn outside an abortion clinic.
1994 Paul Hill, a former Presbyterian minister assassinated a physician and bodyguard outside another abortion clinic; he also wounded the wife of the bodyguard.
1994 Five KKK groups demonstrated adjacent to an abortion clinic in Melbourne FL. They were opposed to abortions given to whites; they encourage abortions to persons of other races. They named Hill their hero of the month.

13. Paul J. Hill Former Presbyterian Minister (defrocked)
Anti-abortion activitist with Army of God connections.
Murdered Dr. John Britton and bodyguard in Wounded Britton’s wife.
Convicted and given death sentence.
Signed Defensive Action Statement.
Executed 2003.

14. Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994
Signed into law in 1994.
First-time offenders can receive fines of $100,000 and jail sentences of up to one year.
U.S. Marshalls will enforce access to clinics.
Resulted in sudden dampening effect on the number of blockades and the number of arrests at blockades.
Protestors seem to change tactics, and engaged in hate letters, harassing phone calls, bomb threats, picketing etc.
R.I.C.O. began to be applied to anti-abortion groups. Federal court rulings in 2003 limited this.

15. Defensive Action Statement
"We, the undersigned, declare the justice of taking all godly action necessary to defend innocent human life including the use of force. We proclaim that whatever force is legitimate to defend the life of a born child is legitimate to defend the life of an unborn child. We assert that if Michael Griffin did in fact kill David Gunn, his use of lethal force was justifiable provided it was carried out for the purpose of defending the lives of unborn children. Therefore, he ought to be acquitted of the charges against him."
According to the SPLC (2010):
Shortly before the trial of Michael Griffin for the 1993 murder of Dr. David Gunn, former Rev. Paul Hill and 33 others signed what has become known as the "defensive action statement."
The statement (text left) has become well known in the movement as one of the definitive lists of those who have seen murder of abortion doctors as "justifiable homicide."

16. Jury Box
On 12/21/06, AG Kline charged Tiller with 30 cts of Misdemeanors involving abortion performed on minors. These charges were dismissed at the request of the Sedgwick Co. DA.
On 06/28/07 AG Morrison charged Tiller with 19 cts of Misdemeanors involving basically the same charges.
Tiller was acquitted in a jury trial on 05/27/09.

17. The Cartridge Box: Tiller Murdered
On 05/31/09 Tiller was shot and killed while serving as a usher at his church in Wichita.
He was killed by Scott Roeder who had been stalking him for about a year.

18. Scott Roeder
Former member of Freeman Militia in Montana and involved in ”sovereign citizens” movement.
Prior conviction on criminal use of explosives (overturned/bad search)
Admitted killing Tiller, said it was to protect unborn children.
Unsuccessfully attempted to use necessity defense for justifiable homicide.
Convicted, 2010, awaiting sentencing.

19. Summary
The issue of abortion and abortion rights has political, religious, and legal implications.
Anyone has the right to protest.
However, when the protests turn violent it becomes a matter for law enforcement authorities.
Do the bombing and killings of abortion providers meet the FBI’s definition of terrorism?