You misunderstand. I’m not trying to suggest that it would be easier to disable than kill, I’m trying to say that it would be preferable. I’m using the assumption that you can make a choice between killing the attacker and just injuring the attacker sufficiently to stop the attack. I realise this isn’t always realistic, but I’m very uncomfortable with the idea of using lethal force, even in self defence. I wouldn’t condemn anyone who uses lethal force in self defence, but at the same time I hope that they only use it as a last resort. If there is a way to end the attack without killing the attacker, that is the way I’d rather see things go.
Still, this is beside the point - this thread isn’t about killing attackers, it’s about abortion and killing doctors who perform abortions.
Another point to consider, BonVivant is that abortion clinics aren’t always used for that exclusive purpose. Some are women’s health clinics that offer other services that women (pregnant or not) use. When you blow up an abortion clinic, you’re not just killing the “murderers”, but also any innocent people who happen to be inside, like women consulting on health issues, janitors, etc. Perhaps your “attacker in the carpark” analogy would be more correct if you stopped him by throwing a bomb at him - because it’s going to stop anyone else who happens to be too close by, no matter how innocent they are and including the person you’re trying to save.
Facilities that provide abortions (not just referrals) are relatively few and far between. The number of facilities available to perform the other services is large enough that the number of people who would actually be deprived of procedures (similar in cost, quality, etc.) seems to be a minor consideration.
Even if you don’t want to take innocent lives, there are plenty of options still available.
Blow up/burn down the clinics while they’re empty. Gathering information on a clinic isn’t like trying to get around security procedures at NSA headquarters (although, don’t get me started on security at federal buildings!). If there is a security guard there 24 hours a day, this option probably isn’t all that viable.
Kill/disable providers in locations and a manner that reduces the likelihood of innocent bystanders being harmed.
Do what you can to destroy organizations like the National Network of Abortion Funds.
I don’t really want to list every single method of preventing abortions. I already feel weird justifying something I abhor and I’m probably not as well equipped to come up with all the different scenarios as a hardcore right-to-lifer.
If we were talking about killing random women who sought illegal abortions, it would be a different matter. Killing mass murderers in the middle of their killing sprees is something else entirely (so long as you consider self defense of a third party to be justified).
The death penalty is legal. There are not a lot of bombed prisons and dead wardens. The number of times the death penalty is used in an entire year pales in comparison to the number of abortions performed each day in the United States. Not to mention, there’s the whole “innocent vs. guilty” matter, which, while not relevant to all persons who hold anti-capital punishment views, still takes the edge off of it for many people. Killing Bundy vs. the “innocent little baby”, for example.
This is what I’m hearing: My nextdoor neighbor wakes up every morning, showers, dresses and eats breakfast in preparation for a long day of brutally murdering children in foster care. The state doesn’t care. It’s legal. Minors aren’t afforded the same rights as regular citizens. Hell, some people say it might even be better for them than to spend their formative years in an abusive situation.
I hold up signs every now and then and vote for legislators who are against this practice. I may even have taken in a few foster children…
I couldn’t, in good conscience, watch my neighbor get into his car each day, mere yards from my house, and set off to brutally murder innocent human beings. I would go to jail to stop just him. Nevermind that other people would think twice before going into that line of work.
I find it hard to believe that legality is the only thing stopping people from doing any and all things they can to stop this horrible practice.
Obviously, this isn’t directed at those of you who feel killing someone, even in self defense, is wrong. It’s not like the pro-capital punishment, pro-lifer is a rare creature.
BonVivant, I understood your OP to be asking about killing the doctors who take the lives of unborn babies rather than burning down the clinics where they do it. I know there are many ways you could do either, but I spoke about bombing specifically because that’s a method that has been used against these centres and people before.
I’m uncomfortable with the idea of any individual declaring him or herself judge, jury and executioner. Taking the law into your own hands is a bad idea, and endorsing other people doing the same becomes extremely risky. Do you eat meat? There are people out there who believe that eating meat is murder. If you’re justified killing mass murderers of innocent lives (abortion doctors), then they’re justified in killing mass murderers of innocent lives (meat eaters). We can’t have people running around slaughtering each other because they think differently, which is why murder is illegal. At the end of the day, you’re not going to be a hero in everyone’s eyes for unlawfully murdering someone who was lawfully doing his or her job. If you don’t like it, throw your efforts into trying to bring about a change in the law and leave the death penalty to the legal system.