A First Things commenter has just been sentenced to forty-one months in federal prison for a comment he left on our site in 2010:
Theodore Shulman, a pro-choice activist who in 2010 threatened to kill several pro-life leaders, has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison.
Shulman, 51, pleaded guilty in May to one count of transmitting a threat to injure another person. The targeted victims named in the case are Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, and Princeton University’s Robert George.
In January 2010, as the trial of Scott Roeder, a man accused of killing abortionist George Tiller, was under way, Shulman posted a comment on the news site First Things, threatening that “if Roeder is acquitted, someone will respond by killing” Father Pavone and Mr. George.
Regulars here know that things can get pretty heated in our comboxes, which is all well and good. One thing we don’t countenance, though, is physical threats. As Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in announcing the sentence: “The vibrant exchange of ideas that is a hallmark of our society does not include threats. As Theodore Shulman’s sentence makes clear, advocating one’s point of view through threats of violence is illegal conduct that will be punished.”
Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
October 4th, 2012 | 3:44 pm
I have nothing to say. Seriously. Stop reading anything I have ever put in a combox.
October 4th, 2012 | 4:11 pm
*chirp*
October 4th, 2012 | 4:45 pm
Having had a few ironic or mildly sarcastic comments censored from time to time, I am wondering how death threats made it through moderation.
October 4th, 2012 | 5:01 pm
I promise.
October 4th, 2012 | 5:05 pm
David: I very much doubt they made it through moderation.
October 4th, 2012 | 5:58 pm
What is ironic is that the “baby-killers” of the pro-choice side will do nothing but condemn this threat, while actual murder is completely fine with many people who call themselves pro-life. I don’t mean ‘opinion leaders’, I’m talking about the rank and file. Just look at the reactions to the murder of Dr. Tiller:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2261665/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2261656/posts
A representative example: “Frankly, I don’t give a damn what they say. I suspect more people than would publicly admit it are glad Tiller is dead.” And so do I.
October 5th, 2012 | 1:32 am
Stereotyping flourishes among the gullible. I am strongly pro-life and, under no circumstances, would ever rationalize violence of any kind.
October 5th, 2012 | 9:22 am
Max,
You falter on your assumption. “Actual murder” is completely fine with many people regardless of their beliefs on abortion. That’s called the crazy fringe. Those that take the extra step are called murderers. Pro-choice no more inoculates them from that “choice” than pro-life does.
“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” Robert Browning
But at the more mundane level, your thinking above is not infrequently called, “holier than thou” thinking.
October 5th, 2012 | 12:34 pm
Irishsmile: Stereotyping flourishes among the gullible. I am strongly pro-life and, under no circumstances, would ever rationalize violence of any kind.
I am completely aware of the fact that individuals like yourself exist, and thus, I did not generalize. I just said that ‘many pro-lifers’, even many supposed moderates, expressed happiness at the murder of Dr. Tiller.
Mike: “Actual murder” is completely fine with many people regardless of their beliefs on abortion. That’s called the crazy fringe.
The point was that only on the anti-abortion side are murders carried and out and subsequently justified by non-murderers. Only on the anti-abortion side is forcing the closure of a clinic closed by harassment of patients hailed as a great victory. What would you think of me, if I along with a group of atheists harassed a local Catholic church into oblivion, and then bragged about ‘a complete victory’ for atheism?
Mike: Pro-choice no more inoculates them from that “choice” than pro-life does.
How then do you explain that abortion doctors have to fear for their lives, and are often the targets of vandalism, terrorism and murder – when such things never befall anti-abortion leaders?
October 12th, 2012 | 3:24 am
“What is ironic is that the “baby-killers” of the pro-choice side will do nothing but condemn this threat, while actual murder is completely fine with many people who call themselves pro-life. I don’t mean ‘opinion leaders’, I’m talking about the rank and file. Just look at the reactions to the murder of Dr. Tiller”
I guess then this article does not exist? http://www.firstthings.com/article/2007/01/killing-abortionists-a-symposium-31
October 13th, 2012 | 6:00 pm
Matthew: I guess then this article does not exist?
I said the rank and file, not opinion leaders. And what Hadley Arkes wrote was interesting to say the least.
I actually would agree with people who advocate the use of violence against abortion doctors, if I believed that zygotes were actual babies. It seems the only logical end point of that premise.
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