Roeder Found Guilty
Ben Harley
Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: Opinion
According to CBS News, on January 29, 2010 Scott Roeder was found guilty of first-degree murder. This happened after a judge had allowed Roeder's defense to argue Roeder be convicted on manslaughter. A first-degree murder conviction comes with a mandatory sentence of life in prison, with parole available after 25 years, according to "The Kansas City Star". A voluntary manslaughter sentences would have been a five-year sentence, this also according to "The Star".
This is a great day for American civil discourse. There is no room in this country for people who break the law and then ask for civil debate. There is no room for those who choose violence over discussion.
According to "Crime Scene KC", after hearing all of the testimony Judge Warren Wilbert did not give the jury the option of convicting Roeder of manslaughter. This was the correct decision.
However, even though a great victory was won for justice today, there is still much tragedy. Not only the loss of Tiller's life, but the loss of what could have been a ground breaking trial for the anti-abortion crowd.
Operation Rescue, a pro-life group had been steadily working to legally shut down Tiller's operation. According to The Catholic News Agency, Operation Rescue had faced him in courts, and run strong propaganda campaigns in the Wichita area. They had helped to bring Tiller's business down 54% from when they moved their headquarters down the street from his office in 2002.
Speaking to the CNA, Kansas Pro-Life leader, Troy Newman said, "it was a matter of a couple more months until the late term abortion clinic was going to close."
If there is a more compelling, clear-cut example of the destructive nature of violence, I have not heard it.
This is a great day for American civil discourse. There is no room in this country for people who break the law and then ask for civil debate. There is no room for those who choose violence over discussion.
According to "Crime Scene KC", after hearing all of the testimony Judge Warren Wilbert did not give the jury the option of convicting Roeder of manslaughter. This was the correct decision.
However, even though a great victory was won for justice today, there is still much tragedy. Not only the loss of Tiller's life, but the loss of what could have been a ground breaking trial for the anti-abortion crowd.
Operation Rescue, a pro-life group had been steadily working to legally shut down Tiller's operation. According to The Catholic News Agency, Operation Rescue had faced him in courts, and run strong propaganda campaigns in the Wichita area. They had helped to bring Tiller's business down 54% from when they moved their headquarters down the street from his office in 2002.
Speaking to the CNA, Kansas Pro-Life leader, Troy Newman said, "it was a matter of a couple more months until the late term abortion clinic was going to close."
If there is a more compelling, clear-cut example of the destructive nature of violence, I have not heard it.
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