My first reaction to this news…shock and sadness. However much I disapproved of what Tiller did for a living, I do think that he sincerely believed that he was providing a valuable service. And the manner in which he was assassinated – gunned down in church – is horrible! My condolences go out to his family.
Dr. George Tiller, one of the nation’s few providers of late-term abortions despite decades of protests and attacks, was shot and killed Sunday in a church where he was serving as an usher.
The gunman fled, but a 51-year-old suspect was detained some 170 miles away in suburban Kansas City three hours after the shooting, Wichita Deputy Police Chief Tom Stolz said.
Although Stolz refused to release the man’s name, Johnson County sheriff’s spokesman Tom Erickson identified the detained man as Scott Roeder. He has not been charged in the slaying and was expected to be taken to Wichita for questioning.
Gateway Pundit has some additional info on the suspect, who has been identified :
It was not his first arrest.
Free Republic had this from the ADL:Scott Roeder is sentenced to sixteen months in state prison for parole violations following a 1996 conviction for having bomb components in his car trunk. Roeder, a sovereign citizen and tax protester, violated his parole by not filing tax returns or providing his social security number to his employer.He is a pro-lifer, except when he kills abortionists:
UPDATE 3: Scott Roeder was convicted back in 1996 on bomb charges.
This guy was a nut… and a killer.UPDATE 4: Roeder was a “Freemen” member:
Topeka, Kan. – Preliminary hearing for Scott Roeder, Freemen member charged with possessing bomb parts.
The Freemen are a radical anti-government group.
Info on the Freeman movement, here.
UPDATE 5: Roeder was on the FBI’s list as a Freeman member back in 1996 when he was arrested:
See Gateway Pundit for screenshot.
So, from what we know so far…this wacko was anti-abortion, and anti-tax.
Great. Just great.
I wonder how the media is going to spin this?
Something tells me that Glenn Beck, and Craig T. Nelson’s anti-tax rebellion just stalled in a big way.
Others blogging this story:
Ace of Spades: Late-Term Abortionist Shot to Death in Church in Likely Assassination
The Other McCain: Oh God, Not This: Tiller Assassinated
Hot Air: George Tiller Murdered
American Power: Andrew Sullivan: “Christianists” Killed George Tiller – UPDATED!!
Robert P. George, The Corner: Gravely Wicked
Protein Wisdom: Tiller’s Assassination
Right Pundits: Dr. George Tiller Killed: Abortion Doctor Killed
Pirate’s Cove: George Tiller, Famed Late Term Abortionist, Murdered, Suspect Arrested
RightWingSparkle: Not Pro-Life
Stop The ACLU: George Tiller, Famed Late Term Abortionist, Murdered, Suspect Arrested
Newsbusters: Liberal Blogs Quickly Link Doctor’s Murder to Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck
Gateway Pundit: Westboro Freaks Protest at Tiller’s Vigil
Michelle Malkin: Notes on the murder of George Tiller
CNS News: Pro-Lifers Say Abortionist’s Murder Undermines the Right-to-Life Movement
UK Daily Mail: Obama sends in U.S. Marshals to protect abortion clinics across America after controversial doctor is killed
U.S. Marshals were sent to guard abortion clinics across America today amid fears the murder of a controversial doctor could spark a new wave of violence.
This murder has set off a wave of strong condemnation from pro life groups, but whatever. In light of recent events, is he going to send marshals out to military recruitment offices, too?
UPDATE: The Daily Mail has since removed that headline, and scrubbed the article of any reference to it. But other sites like Fox are reporting that Eric Holder is directing US marshals to “facilities across the nation”.
AoSHQ: Bill O’Reilly Implicated In Murder
Mountain Sage: Suspect supported killing abortion providers, friends say
Nice Deb 
