Tiller Killer Intimidates From Jail: New Abortion Clinic Is 'A Target On Your Back Saying Well, Let's See If You Can Shoot Me'
Dr. George Tiller's killer, Scott Roeder, has allegedly tried to intimidate abortion providers-even from inside jail.
Tiller's killer was convicted for the death of the abortion doctor George Tiller. Tiller was a doctor who risked providing abortions for women in rural areas and late-term abortions, despite numerous threats against his life. He has since been hailed as a reproductive rights pioneer.
Tiller was gunned down in cold blood in front of his church in Wichita, Kansas while handing out church bulletins. He was killed by Scott Roeder, who has since been dubbed the "Tiller killer".
And now, the Tiller killer has continued to threaten violence toward abortion providers from prison. The district attorney says that a phone call between Roeder and anti-abortion activist Dave Leach discussed in part the re-opening of Tiller's clinic....and threats to Julie Burkhart, the doctor who re-opened it.
Roeder, the "Tiller killer", said chillingly, "To walk in there and reopen a clinic, a murder mill where a man was stopped, is almost like putting a target on your back saying, 'Well, let's see if you can shoot me.'"
At that, Leach said that if more abortion providers were murdered, it would "a blessing to the babies," and that a new clinic at the site of Tiller's old clinic amounted to "a gauntlet thrown down, by someone who wants a fight."
Tiller's killer was not the first to threaten or attempt to assassinate Dr. Tiller - his clinic was firebombed in 1986, and Tiller was shot in the early 90s five times by anti-abortion activist Shelley Shannon.
Bill O'Reilly consistently targeted Tiller, saying he was "a savage on the loose, killing babies willy-nilly," and claiming he was "operating a death mill."
O'Reilly's statements may have, in part, incited Tiller's murder.
Tiller's killer will have reduced privileges, such as segregation and other restrictions, for 60 days due to his threats.