UPDATED (2:10pm)
There were two weird and seemingly senseless murders in the Owosso area of Michigan early today.
One was an anti-abortion activist known around town as “The Abortion Sign Guy”, who was shot in front of a school (yes, that’s where they parade their idiotic signs these days, in front of schools), true name James Pouillon:
An anti-abortionist has been shot dead in front of horrified teenagers as they arrived for school.
The man, identified locally as Jim Pouillon, was shot and killed outside the Owosso High School in Owosso, Michigan, at about 7.30am local time today as schoolbuses dropped youngsters off for class.
The police have a suspect in custody and say the murders are related, but haven’t enlarged upon that. Although it remains to be seen if Pouillon’s killing had anything to do with his anti-choice activism, that’s not stopping the usual suspects from implying otherwise and even analogizing it to the murder of Dr. George Tiller:
In the wake of the tragedy, Fr. Pavone of Priests for Life told LifeSiteNews.com that he hoped to see “a strong expression of indignation from the pro-abortion community, just like there was a strong expression of indignation form the pro-life community at the killing of Dr. Tiller.”
Nice try, but thanks to an extremely public social networking platform, we got to see the real “indignation”.
Unless Mr. Pouillon was subjected to decades of harassment and was the target of an escalating and unrelenting pro-choice hate campaign that culminated in his summary execution, there’s no basis for analogy. And not that Father Douche would give a flying fuck, but it’s an insult to Dr.Tiller’s memory that his death, nothing less than a political assassination, would be compared to this tragic but sadly not atypical act of violence. But hey, might as well strike while the iron’s hot and the body’s still warm, eh?
Because that’s the real goal, isn’t it? To minimize one murder (not to mention the ongoing threats to abortion providers) by playing up another. They’ve been humping this one for months, with phony and fabricated “threat” claims (some so obviously false it’s ridiculous), and now they have a corpse to parade around.
Sorry fetus fetishists. It’s too bad that both of these guys were killed — and if Pouillon was targeted by some batshit crazy pro-choicer expressly because of his anti-choice activism, other pro-choicers will join me in *strongly denouncing* it. As much as I disagree with moronic fetus porn displays, I’ve been vocal in my support for the right to be a “moran” (to the chagrin of some of my readers, who are Anti-Moranitarian Extremists).
But that’s where it ends for me: I’m not playing the false equivalence game with the memory of a pro-choice hero.
UPDATE: According to the NYT, it appears that Pouillon may indeed have been targeted because of his anti-choice activism. (Link via Lindsay Beyerstein, via Pogge.) Primarily it seems to be because the shooter didn’t like Pouillon displaying graphic pictures in front of a school…? And shooting someone in front of a school is so much better?
Although I obviously denounce this brutality, I stand by my remarks about false equivalence. This was done by someone clearly unhinged who acted in complete solitude. It was not the culmination of a decades-long campaign of hate, harrassment and circular reinforcement of the same, directed against the victim. Out of respect for all the dead, people should avoid making such analogies.
UPDATE 2 (2:30pm): The shooter apparently had a third target that he never got to, a realtor. Three targets, motives totally unrelated. So this was not a politically-motivated crime — rather, some nutcase went off the deep and decided to go around shooting people who’ve pissed him off for various reasons.
My condolences go out to the loved ones of both victims, and particularly to Mrs. Fouss, who is going through treatment for brain cancer. Stay strong.
UPDATE 3 (2:47pm): JAB brings up an interesting point. I’ve read a lot on this story today, but I have yet to see anyone claim that Mr.Pouillon reaped what he sowed by being out there protesting: only that, agree or disagree, it was his right to do so. As it was Dr.Tiller’s right to perform a legal medical procedure.
So I suppose in that way there is an analogy to be made.
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I was wondering when you’d pick this up… the anti-choice crowd is off and running, while we await the facts. (sigh).
joe – This story has caught my interest now, because of the 2 murders being related.
It would be interesting to find out what the second guy’s stance on abortion was.
My gut is that abortion had nothing to do with this… but we’ll see. If it was about abortion then obviously I will/would join you in renouncing the act. Violence isn’t the answer.
(as an aside: regardless of my position on abortion, I can’t stand these idiots and their signs! Even if I were anti-choice I’d still want to clobber these idiots parading around schools etc. with their abortion porn signs…. ARGH!!)
joe – It appears that the shooter is the son of a guy who is an ex-employee of the second victim, who ran a gravel pit. This leads me to believe the motive was something to do with employment, or getting fired, and the shooter going postal.
This is just me speculating, but I could see a scenario where the shooter’s old man was fired, lost his health insurance, was subsequently diagnosed with some terrible illness, and forced to sell his house to pay for treatment. So, the son shows up at his father’s former place of employment, looking for a little revenge… and then on his way home, he’s just completely batshit and shoots the first person he sees, which happens to be the anti-choicer.
Hey, I’m just letting my imagination go wild here.
Of course if that really was how it went down, wingnuts would seize upon the shooter as being “pro-healthcare reform”.
That scenario ran through my head, too, JJ. Guy shoots the guy he thinks is the author of all his troubles, then thinks, well, hell, I’m probably going down for this, maybe I’ll take that really annoying sign guy out too.
Kidding.
Mostly.
And, joe, I’m with you on that. When I’ve had to walk by clinic harassers, sometimes my elbows just kind of get a mind of their own and happen to jostle the dried-up old meddlers’ signs. Just a little.
the guy he thinks is the author . . .
Cripes, I gotta proofread better.
Latest from the NYT, courtesy of Lindsay Beyerstein. It appears that Pouillon was a target because of his protests while Fuoss was shot for unrelated reasons.
I’d be surprised if this were even tangentially abortion-related, and the fact he’s an ex-employee seems to confirm that (thanks for the update, JJ). But the pro-liers have jumped the gun already, and will soon be wanting to forget their little apology-demanding tantrum – except to emphasise the “what if” part of the martyr fantasy.
fern hill – I fixed it.
If you read pogge’s link below your comment, it appears Pouillon was indeed targeted for his protesting — which of course is totally wrong. WTF? We don’t do shit like this.
pogge – Holy shit. I’m utterly shocked and WTF??. Thanks for the link.
brebis – Get ready for it — it appears that Pouillon might have been targeted for his protesting
I’m gobsmacked
no prayers, no condolences, no thoughts…typical pro-abortion crowd. Truly evil, evil to the core.
Shorter JJ:
“So what if I’ve spent years demonizing anti-abortion protesters and alternately excusing and lionizing violence against them? Now that someone’s actually been killed, I don’t have to take responsibility!
And so what if my excuse to date has been ‘no anti-abortion protesters have been killed, so it’s actually OK’? I don’t have to take any responsibility!
You gonna bark all day little doggie?
Re the update. There seem to be conflicting reports. AP in a story posted just over half an hour ago says the authorities have not specifically connected this to abortion.
Click my home page for the links.
bob – I thought I put in my condolences to the loved ones? I’ve been typing this one fast, sorry. (No prayers though buddy, I gave it up.)
no prayers, no condolences, no thoughts…typical pro-abortion crowd. Truly evil, evil to the core.
I don’t pray for guys (or women) who are trying to take away my rights. Don’t like it? Too effin’ bad.
BTW, nice language-demonization you got going there. Yeah, you’re really gonna win points here today. Wanker.
Ahem.
Now that I have that off my chest, wouldn’t it be a gas if the anti-choicer was just a RANDOM target? You know, shot just because he was there, visible? I would love to hear the shriiiiieeeeking from the anti-choice crowd once THAT comes out.
(You just somehow KNOW there will be dead silence. They don’t have the guts even to backpedal.)
Hmmmm. “Prosecutors said the suspect, Harlan James Drake, who is 33, singled out Mr. Pouillon because he disapproved of the victim’s protests in front of children at the school.”
And will JJ take responsibility for what is — by her very own standard of logic — her role in precipitating this murder?
Fuck no she won’t. Of course she won’t.
Gee, maybe that’s because she bears NO responsibility for it?
Or is that too much logic for you, troll?
..still no prayers, no condolences, no thoughts…
Oh, get off your high horse, Bob. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were one of those tweeting their masturbatory glee at the murder of Dr. Tiller.
Troll.
Hey, Splatrick, AP says you’re lying.
Besides, isn’t it your side that’s always accusing the NYT of being an evil Mexislamocommiehomofascist propaganda organ that’s out to sap and impurify your precious bodily fluids? So why trust it in this case? Just because it says something that fits your ideological agenda? Isn’t that slightly opportunistic?
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww, I got Splatrick all over my blog! That’s gonna take weeks to clean up!
bobbo – What part of “My condolences go out to the loved ones of both victims, and particularly to Mrs. Fouss, who is going through treatment for brain cancer. Stay strong.” is so hard to understand?
JAB – This story is turning out to have no political angle.
The shooter was a nut who went sideways and decided to kill everyone who pissed him off, for a variety of reasons. One guy owed him money, the anti-choicer bugged him because he protested at the school, and the realtor probably burned him on a property deal or something, who knows.
Still a rotten tragedy for the families, especially the woman getting cancer treatment, who I really feel for. But anyone who tries to say this is a politically-motivated killing (like Dr. Tiller) is being disingenuous.
I am a 66 year old pro-life woman and you sir are a fucking pig to use your own word here.
I am for life, Tiller and you are pro-death so I am going to assume when you die you will burn in hell where it seems to me today you need to be. If you sir, think it is honorable, to kill the most defenseless of all, the unborn, then you are nothing but a bully and as bad as any nazi death camp.
I hope you find Christ before it is too late but won’t bank on it. I usually can pray for those destined for hell but for you, I just am unable to. Sorry!
Wow. T3h Crazy is strong with this one.
Whew! Dodged another prayer assault there, JJ. Sir.
WTF was that??
It’s always a tragedy when someone is killed. My condolences to the families of the victims.
I’m calling Poe on that one
My sweetie, who has a pretty strong sarcastic streak, sometimes sign letters thusly: ‘Ritual flourish, sweetie’.
Why must we — especially us ‘pro-aborts’ — express condolences to the families?
Like, they care?
I don’t know these people. I don’t know any — knock wood — murdered people. If I expressed condolences, it would be much like all those fetus fetishists who did the ritual flourish over Dr. Tiller. Not exactly like, because I’ve never called for the extermination of clinic harassers. Much like, because it would be insincere.
I will say that the violence is deplorable. And nutty. But to express condolences? No.
Fern, does that mean you don’t like my ritual flourish? I worked really hard on it.
Dr. Prole, ’twas excellent ritual flourish.
Here’s Antonia Z’s take. We feminazis get beaten no matter what the fuck we say.
PRICELESS
fern hill – Well, I see what you mean, but I think the expression of condolences is a ritual that makes us all a little more human, a little less divided. We all mourn and grieve when we lose a loved one, it transcends politics. And these days, there is precious little that transcends politics.
Of course, I’m just an old-fashioned conservative
sassy – Oh fer fuck sake, they’re really flogging this one, aren’t they? Right, well, when they start being harassed and abused and stalked and threatened because of their anti-abortion views, then they need protection.
Or better yet, they could learn how to mind their own business.
Ohhhh yah. One persecutiongasm coming right up.
Let’s go Glenn Beck on this one (read: completely batshit crazy conspiracy theorist) – the shooter was actually a forced birther who shot a fellow activist to create fake “pro-choice terrorism”, taking federal protection away from abortion providers and giving it to the protesters with their graphic bloody dead fetus porn signs! To make it easier to shoot doctors, natch.
It really is a terrible shame when people are killed in senseless acts of violence (and my condolences are sincere). Especially awful is when some try to make political hay of it.
fern hill – Yah, good post by AZ.
I am relieved, but not surprised, to find out there’s no political motive — I was pretty shocked when it looked like there might be. It’s just not in our side, since we aren’t fueled by religious fervour and the idea that we’re on some kind of “crusade”.
Like I said above, the guy had totally different issues with 3 people and set out to kill them. BIZARRE
but not political.
I wonder if he has a blog…
no prayers, no condolences, no thoughts…typical pro-abortion crowd. Truly evil, evil to the core.
Bob: yes, condolences to the families of the victims, but keep your religion out of my face.
Frank,
why? does my religion offend you? Are you a communist? I spent a lot of time in the far east, I was never offended by Buddhism nor did I tell anybody to keep it out of my face. why the intolerance?
Yah you know how those Buddhists love to proselytize…
no prayers… typical… truly evil, evil to the core.
Yes, matter of fact I do indeed consider that to be offensive.
Bob
OK bob, I’m starting to think you’re a POE.
Fess up.
Bob is merely a BORE.
fern hill – Bob is a commenter from Stanek’s. He was in on the Full Scale 30-day Prayer Assault
He says it was “nothing bad” — I wonder what he means by that? Probably it was imprecatory prayer 
Hey! I’m still standing!! W00T! Imprecatory Prayer FAIL!!!
OK. You denounce the murder of this man, and I accept that.
But, then again, I remember that SUZANNE denounced the murder of Dr George Tiller — as did Dr Roy Eappen.
That turned out to not be good enough for yourself or your favourite gun-toating crazed crony.
So I suspect that you’ll be acknowledging their denunciation of Dr George Tiller as sufficient now? Should I hold my breath?
oh yes patrick, do hold your breath. it isn’t like your brain pudding is used to getting any oxygen.
Patrick – By all means, hold your breath
Well, fair enough. If denunciations are insufficient, then I suppose the same thing will have to apply to your denunciation of this particular murderer.
By your very own logic you’re still responsible.
Any guesses as to where PR is going to move the goalposts next?
Patrick – I’m not sure I get what you mean. But actually, I am curious to find out exactly why this guy shot Pouillon — he was offended by the signs in front of the school or whatever, but how could he think that shooting the guy in front of the school was any better? Doesn’t that seem kind of weird to you?
Then again, the guy’s obviously nuts, so I guess his story doesn’t have to make sense.
FF – No, but don’t you think this story sounds like it’s got a few holes in it?
“does my religion offend you” Christianity doesn’t offend me, just this new christian/neo-facist/extreme right-wing american hybrid thats anti-choice, anti-gay, anti health care reform, against contraception, thinks global warming is bunk, and peranoid of the “GOVERMENT”. If someone like Huckabee ever became POTUS, the US would be soo fucked!!