Anti-abortion activist killed near Mich. school

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

Anti-abortion activist killed near Mich. school
Second man also shot dead at nearby business; suspect arrested


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32799068/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts?GT1=43001

[KittyMom]

I saw this onthe news. I don't understand the connection to the second victim. He was a businessman. I guess LE will just have to wait and see if this guys spills the beans.

[IaNsSyAlNuE]

I saw this onthe news. I don't understand the connection to the second victim. He was a businessman. I guess LE will just have to wait and see if this guys spills the beans.

I wondered too, I wondered if he were a protestor as well or just part of a crazy man gone on a insane killing spree.

[dulcinea]

I don't think the second victim is a protester. I am guessing maybe he was fired from the gravel pit. The following quotes are from the above linked article.

"The defendant had ill will toward these three individuals — not for the same reason necessarily, but had a grudge," Colbry said.

Troy Newman, president of the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, said he wept when he received word that Pouillon, his friend and colleague, had been killed. "He was just a kind, gentle man who loved life and endeavored to save other people's lives," Newman said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32799068/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts?GT1=43001

If he had been a protester, I think Newman would have mentioned him as well. I got the feeling this creep had a grudge against three people and decided today was the day to take them all out. Thankfully he never had a chance to get to the third person.

[watcher2005]

"2 Dead, 1 Spared: A Shooter's Hit List "

By Nicole Serling

WEYI NBC25

Friday, September 11, 2009 at 8:41 a.m.

http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=349067

Copyright © 2008,2009 Barrington Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.

"Unless you are subsequently advised otherwise by Barrington, you are hereby licensed to create hyperlinks to the content on the Site, provided the hyperlink accurately describes the content as it appears on the Site. "

[History Buff]

I wonder where the outrage is going to be. Is Obama going to make a statement in condemnation of this act? Is this going to get wall to wall coverage on CNN?

[watcher2005]

I haven't seen it in the national news.

[History Buff]

And we probably won't except for the link that Drudge has on his site. I'm just waiting for the Left to condemn this.

[Hey Paula]

Will Janet Napolitano issue an alert for left-wing terrorists now? She did so when she characterized pro-lifers as right-wing terrorists.

[watcher2005]

Will Janet Napolitano issue an alert for left-wing terrorists now? She did so when she characterized pro-lifers as right-wing terrorists.

I can sure appreciate the irony, but I don't want the federal government chilling the free speech of any peaceful Americans-- even those I disagree with.

[MercedesV]

I haven't seen it in the national news.

It's on the front page of CNN's website. Very visible story.

[aspects]

An anti-abortion protest outside high school creeps me out.

So it was an anti-abortion protest outside the high school and the shooter was offended by the material. I still wonder why he killed the gravel pit owner, the order in which they were killed and who the third man was that he was looking to kill.

It says he may have known the owner, so if the owner was killed first and he knew he was going to get caught, he figured he would take out some other people who pissed him off.

Honestly when I opened the thread I thought it was going to be some young woman trying to get to an abortion clinic who shot a protester.

[orangetaffy]

"Authorities say the suspect, Harlan James Drake, was offended by anti-abortion material that the activist had displayed across from the school all week."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/11/michigan.shooting/

[aproudmom]

I haven't seen it in the national news.

I have not heard one thing until just reading it on here..

[MrsBeesley]

I have not heard one thing until just reading it on here..

I googled and got 101,000 articles.

Results 1 - 10 of about 101,000 for "anti abortion activist killed Michigan"

[watcher2005]

I googled and got 101,000 articles.

Results 1 - 10 of about 101,000 for "anti abortion activist killed Michigan"


That's strange. I only got one item with that search phrase.

Results 1 - 1 of 1 for "anti abortion activist killed Michigan". (0.27 seconds)

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22anti+abortion+activist+killed+Michigan %22&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

[MrsBeesley]

That's strange. I got one.

Results 1 - 1 of 1 for "anti abortion activist killed Michigan". (0.27 seconds)

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22anti+abortion+activist+killed+Michigan %22&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

Google without the quotation marks.

anti abortion activist killed Michigan

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&fkt=5315&fsdt=5315&q=anti+abortion+activist+killed+Michigan&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=1&cad=b

[Casspian]

I wonder where the outrage is going to be. Is Obama going to make a statement in condemnation of this act? Is this going to get wall to wall coverage on CNN?

Just more turning it into we vs them????? :rolleyes:

Violence like this is not right no matter who does it.

[Casspian]

Will Janet Napolitano issue an alert for left-wing terrorists now? She did so when she characterized pro-lifers as right-wing terrorists.

How many murders or attempted murders or acts of violence have been associated with extremist pro-lifers. Only one? I don't think so.

And, one man does not an organized group make. Nor is it right that he did it for any reason.

Some groups of pro-lifers have been on the Domestic Terrorist watch for a long time. Janet Napolitano did not start this, not by a long shot.

[BOZGAL2]

I have not heard one thing until just reading it on here..

I have not either.

[Casspian]

I googled and got 101,000 articles.

Results 1 - 10 of about 101,000 for "anti abortion activist killed Michigan"

news.google shows 1000+ new articles anti abortion activist shot

OWOSSO, Mich. — A man carrying grudges against several people set off on a shooting spree Friday morning, authorities said, killing an abortion protester outside a high school because he didn't like the activist holding a sign with graphic images of a fetus in front of students ...

Pouillon, known as "the sign man" for his years of in-your-face protests against abortion, was a polarizing figure in Owosso, a town of 15,000 best known as the birthplace of 1948 Republican presidential candidate Thomas Dewey. While inhaling oxygen from a small tank, he could usually be seen with his anti-abortion signs outside schools, the library, city hall, even football games.

"His dedication to his cause was unprecedented," said Tony Young, who tangled with Pouillon during protests outside his car dealership.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gs85ZcvkuS2Kgd4tuOwBy6YFaQBAD9ALGQ000

[sunnydale]

And we probably won't except for the link that Drudge has on his site. I'm just waiting for the Left to condemn this.

Unfortunately, they probably never will. The hypocrisy of the left is blinding.

[airportwoman]

How is standing outside a high school with an aborted baby poster "saving babies"? Why didn't he use that time, say, babysitting for a teen parent so they could finish high school?

That said, he didn't deserve to be shot, and I think the protester thing was simply a coincidence.

[MrsBeesley]

And we probably won't except for the link that Drudge has on his site. I'm just waiting for the Left to condemn this.

Looks like you were wrong about it only being posted on the Drudge site.

[lunchlady]

I am very sad to hear of another shooting death possibly related to the abortion controversy.
If the murder is politically motivated then it's an assassination, just like Tiller's death and others.

It will be interesting to hear about the killer's motivation for setting out to kill at least 3 people in one day. He only managed to kill 2, fortunately. Perhaps everyone on the list was somehow associated with the anti-abortion protesting in that area? Or perhaps he had a hitlist of everyone in town who had annoyed him in the last week for whatever reason? We'll eventually hear his version of events.

The huge posters of dead fetuses are shocking but protesters have a legal right to display them wherever and whenever they like. I don't condone any activity which infringes on the legal and/or human rights of protesters, abortion providers, or patients seeking abortion.

[Casspian]

Unfortunately, they probably never will. The hypocrisy of the left is blinding.

I haven't heard one person say it was ok to kill this guy. It's not. I don't agree that he had a right to that kind of speech though, especially in front of kids. That's a different story. If there are any on the left acting as some did after the killing of Dr. Tiller, e.g.

http://sf.carnalnation.com/content/7628/3/tweets-hate-crazy-right-twitters-about-murder-dr-tiller

I'll be the first one to condemn them.

[lunchlady]

I haven't heard one person say it was ok to kill this guy. It's not. I don't agree that he had a right to that kind of speech though, especially in front of kids. That's a different story. If there are any on the left acting as some did after the killing of Dr. Tiller, e.g.

http://sf.carnalnation.com/content/7628/3/tweets-hate-crazy-right-twitters-about-murder-dr-tiller

I'll be the first one to condemn them.

Yes, I haven't forgotten the victory dance/celebration Operation Rescue did outside Tiller's clinic a few days after his death. Tacky, tacky, tacky. They even proposed turning it into one of those Pregnancy Assistance Centers or whatever they call them. The assistance in those places really varies.

[sylvian]

Why do Christians focus abortion and homosexuality as great sins? Most advocates against gay marriage and abortion are die-hard Christians.
However, the bible doesn't literally mention abortion anywhere, and mentions homosexuality a few brief times among other commandments considered to be irrelevant, like not wearing garments made from 2 different kinds of fabric or ensuring to beat your wife to death if she cheats on you. The truth is the above-mentioned issues are far overshadowed in their biblical mentioning by hypocrisy, greed and gluttony, and wealth. Why are the biggest homophobes and anti-choicers in public usually very, very, very rich, overweight politicians?

[Casspian]

Yes, I haven't forgotten the victory dance/celebration Operation Rescue did outside Tiller's clinic a few days after his death. Tacky, tacky, tacky. They even proposed turning it into one of those Pregnancy Assistance Centers or whatever they call them. The assistance in those places really varies.


That behavior was sickening, the man was murdered in cold blood. I hope a significant percent of those who are pro-life now understand Operation Rescue and others like them are about promoting hatred and violence. It's horrific enough to promote it, but to celebrate it is truly beyond words.

[lunchlady]

Why do Christians focus abortion and homosexuality as great sins? Most advocates against gay marriage and abortion are die-hard Christians.
However, the bible doesn't literally mention abortion anywhere, and mentions homosexuality a few brief times among other commandments considered to be irrelevant, like not wearing garments made from 2 different kinds of fabric or ensuring to beat your wife to death if she cheats on you. The truth is the above-mentioned issues are far overshadowed in their biblical mentioning by hypocrisy, greed and gluttony, and wealth. Why are the biggest homophobes and anti-choicers in public usually very, very, very rich, overweight politicians?

I often wonder how many of us spoiled Americans, including me, would get any approval from Jesus is he were here today. Not that other countries seem much more virtuous than us, but it does seem like we overcongratulate ourselves on our level of Christian virtue.

I haven't heard anything new about this case and the killer's motivations for the actual and planned murders.

[lunchlady]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/us/17abortion.html?hp

Memorial held for Pouillon. The killer does seem to have killed him because of the signs, so this is being called the first death for the pro-life side. We don't know yet if the killer was actually pro-choice or simply hated the gory signs being displayed near a school.
The article is interesting. This town has had pictures of fetuses on constant display for years. One of Pouillon's friends has a van with the photos on it, as well as anti-Obama signs. Someone took Pouillon to court because they were tired of the signs being purposefully displayed to children but Pouillon's method of protest was upheld by the state Supreme Court.

There are a lot of articles out there accusing the pro-choice side of being "mute" and comparing the coverage to the coverage of Tiller's death. I see their point but Tiller had been a national figure for years prior to his death and large organizations were involved before and after the killing, such as Operation Rescue and Fox News and Bill O'Reilly.

A resolution was introduced to honor Pouillon. Even though I don't share Poullion's outlook I admire his dedication. The resolution is fine with me, as long as all pro-choice deaths receive the same respect.
I am sorry Pouillon is dead and I hope it doesn't contribute to more violence by either side of the controversy.

I'm glad my kids haven't had to look at those yukky pictures every day going to and from school, but I still support the right of folks like Pouillon to protest within the legal limits of the law. Pouillon wasn't obstructing or assaulting anyone. Maybe he thought seeing the photos every day would help make the children grow up anti-abortion? Maybe it worked?

[Lynden1000]

I wonder where the outrage is going to be. Is Obama going to make a statement in condemnation of this act? Is this going to get wall to wall coverage on CNN?

I'm sure you'll see lots of outrage- at least right here on this board if nowhere else.

I don't know how the politics-obsessed operate, but the rest of us don't feel the need to analyze an innocent person's ideology before deciding whether we're outraged by his or her death.

I have some opinions about abortion, but they don't have doo-darn-diddly to do with my sadness over this senseless tragedy.