Murder Conviction in Tiller Shooting

The jury in the George Tiller killing convicted Scott Roeder of murder in the first degree. From the story :

Jurors swiftly convicted an abortion opponent of murder Friday for shooting to death one of the only doctors to offer late-term abortions in the U.S., a killing the gunman claimed was justified to save the lives of unborn children.More NewsThe jury deliberated for just 37 minutes before finding Scott Roeder, 51, of Kansas City, Mo., guilty of premeditated, first-degree murder for putting a gun to the forehead of Dr. George Tiller on May 31 and pulling the trigger. //

There was no other verdict to reach. George Tiller enthusiastically engaged in the odious practice of late term abortion. But that did not justify murder, nor should Roeder’s desire to save babies mitigate the punishment. Roeder not only murdered a man, he acted as a vigilante. Nothing could be more dangerous in a free society. Nothing could more violate the principles of love and service for which the pro life movement strives to stand.