Thoughts from Kansas

Department of Homeland Security report on Rightwing Extremism, issued April 7, 2009:

Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, April 22, 2009:

Will the Federal Government start IDing returning veterans, start IDing gun owners, start IDing pro-lifers and then pull us out of line for special searches at the airports before we are allowed to get on a plane because we could be considered a domestic right-wing terrorist while we would see Osama bin Laden and his friends skate by because they are not, because maybe they would be involved in a manmade disaster. But those who are pro-life gun owners, returning veterans on the other side, they are the real threat?

Merriam man in custody, accused of killing Kansas abortion provider George Tiller, June 1, 2009:

A Johnson County man is expected to face charges today in Sunday’s slaying of Wichita physician George Tiller, one of a handful of doctors in the United States who performed late-term abortions.

Scott P. Roeder, 51, of Merriam, was arrested on Interstate 35 near Gardner nearly four hours after Tiller was shot to death just after 10 a.m. in the lobby of Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita. Roeder was a member of an anti-government group in the 1990s and a staunch abortion opponent.

Department of Homeland Security report on Rightwing Extremism, issued April 7, 2009:

§ Revisiting the 1990s: Paralleling the current national climate, rightwing extremists during the 1990s exploited a variety of social issues and political themes to increase group visibility and recruit new members. Prominent among these themes were the militia movement’s opposition to gun control efforts, criticism of free trade agreements (particularly those with Mexico), and highlighting perceived government infringement on civil liberties as well as white supremacists’ longstanding exploitation of social issues such as abortion, inter-racial crimes, and same-sex marriage. During the 1990s, these issues contributed to the growth in the number of domestic rightwing terrorist and extremist groups and an increase in violent acts targeting government facilities, law enforcement officers, banks, and infrastructure sectors.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, House Floor, April 22, 2009:

it's unbelievable the accusations that are made in this document.

Merriam man in custody, accused of killing Kansas abortion provider George Tiller, June 1, 2009:

In April 1996, Roeder was arrested in Topeka after Shawnee County sheriff’s deputies stopped him for not having a proper license plate. The deputies said they searched the car and found ammunition, a blasting cap, a fuse cord, a one-pound can of gunpowder and two 9-volt batteries. One of the batteries was connected to a switch that could have been used to trigger a bomb.

Roeder was found guilty and sentenced in June 1996 to 24 months of probation with intensive supervision. He also was ordered to dissociate himself from anti-government groups that advocated violence.

Department of Homeland Security report on Rightwing Extremism, issued April 7, 2009:

lone wolves and small terrorist cells embracing violent rightwing extremist ideology are the most dangerous domestic terrorism threat in the United States.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, House Floor, April 22, 2009 (h/t):

I think we're at the point now where we need to have a hearing, we need to have our Director of Homeland Security in front of the Members of Congress, call her to account, ask her why on multiple occasions in this document she calls people who believe in the sanctity of life, who believe in owning firearms, who believe in serving their country in the military and coming back who are very concerned about the policies that this Nation is embarking on, spending too much money, taxing too much, it's all listed right here. These are the domestic right-wing extremists. That is so frightening that we need to have the Secretary of Homeland Security before the Members of Congress and ask her, does she really believe this? Is this really her opinion?

But if it is, I think it would be imperative and incumbent upon us to ask for her resignation.

NOW Identifies Murder of Dr. George Tiller As Domestic Terrorism, Calls for Action from Justice Department and Homeland Security, Statement of NOW President Kim Gandy, June 1, 2009:

Women across the country have lost a champion today. The cold-blooded murder of Dr. George Tiller this morning in church is a stark reminder that women's bodies are still a battleground, and health care professionals are on the frontlines. …

the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security must root out and prosecute as domestic terrorists and violent racketeers the criminal enterprise that has organized and funded criminal acts for decades. …

We urge individuals to wear white armbands all day tomorrow, Monday, June 1, in memory of Dr. Tiller and as a visible expression of determination to redouble our commitment to protecting the right to safe and legal birth control and abortion.

Anyone who mocked the DHS report can blow a goat. People of good will should remember to wear a white armband tomorrow, in memory of the loss of a great man.

For what it's worth, Planned Parenthood makes it easy to make a donation in someone's memory. I had the acknowledgment of my donation sent to his clinic, and earmarked the donation for local services:

WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE SERVICES, P.A.
5107 East Kellogg
Wichita, Kansas USA 67218