Hate Crime

From Catholic World News
By Diogenes

A pro-life activist is dead. The man who shot him says that he wanted to kill the man because of his pro-life signs. But thanks to the First Amendment-- not the "emanations from the penumbra" but the words of the amendment itself-- it's legal to hold up signs even when some people dislike those signs.

So I'm sure that within a matter of hours liberal politicians will:

• Denounce the murder of James Pouillon as a hate crime.
• Call for heavier penalties on criminals who assault pro-lifers.
• Insist that abortion advocates tone down their rhetoric to avoid inflaming passions against pro-lifers.
• Suggest sensitivity training in public schools to help children understand pro-life activists.
• Introduce protective legislation establishing a 25-foot "bubble zone" around pro-life activists to protect them from aggressive rivals.
  

Michigan Man Guilty of Murdering Pro-Life Activist

Pro-life Martyr James Pouillon

A jury has found Harlan Drake guilty of two counts first degree premeditated murder in the shooting deaths of pro-life activist Jim Pouillon and gravel pit owner Mike Fuoss. Each count carries a sentence of life in prison without parole, insuring that Drake, 34, will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The jury deliberated for four hours before returning their verdicts.

Defense attorneys unsuccessfully attempted to convince the jury that Drake was insane at the time of the murders and should not be held criminally responsible. The prosecution had argued that Drake understood what he was doing and knew it was wrong when he carried out his plan to murder Pouillon as he stood protesting abortion outside Owosso High School on September 11, 2009.

Drake indicated that he had no remorse for the killings, but understood he deserved to be punished for them. Prosecutors said Drake believed he was a hero.

"Justice has been done," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "We are relieved that Mr. Drake's behavior will not be excused because he had a sad story to tell, and that he will be locked away for the rest of his life.

"The pro-life community was stunned by Jim Pouillon's senseless murder and a lot of us who share Jim's passion for protecting the innocent became acutely aware of just how fragile life can be. Jim was a kind-hearted man who cared about the injustices of the world and the plight of pre-born babies that die every day at our nation's abortion clinics. He had the courage to get up and try to do something about that injustice. The world was diminished by Jim's death and those of us who knew him miss him very much.

"We pray that Mr. Drake will now seek repentance and forgiveness through Jesus Christ while we continue to pray for comfort, healing, and closure for the victims' families and for the community that has been traumatized by these tragic murders."

Pro-Life Leaders Lament the Violent Death of a Friend and Ally - Jim Pouillon

From LifeSiteNews
By John Jalsevac

This morning at 7:20am James Pouillon, an elderly Michigan-area pro-life activist, was gunned down in front of Owosso High School while protesting abortion with a large sign depicting a baby and the word "Life." A second man was also killed shortly thereafter - Mike Fuoss, the owner of a local gravel pit. It is so far unknown what the motives for the two killings were.

Pro-life leaders, many of whom personally knew Pouillon, have reacted with horror to the senseless killing of the long-time and dedicated activist for the unborn.

"We are stunned by Jim's murder," said Operation Rescue (OR) President Troy Newman. "We extend our condolences to the family and share in their grief over his loss. His life was characterized by his love and concern of the vulnerable, and he will be greatly missed.

"We denounce this senseless act of violence in the strongest terms, and pray that this murderer will be swiftly brought to justice."

Pastor Matt Trewhella of Missionaries of the Preborn said in a press release that Pouillon had joined his group for a few stops of a pro-life tour less than a month ago. "Jim was a selfless, soft-spoken, kind-hearted man. All who knew him, knew this," he said.

Trewhella lamented that, "The press in all its hypocrisy is already painting Jim as a controversial figure. Their hypocrisy is rank. Remember when Tiller was killed how the press painted him as the most saintly man in America, singing his praises? They paint the man who kills the babies as some saint while the man who exposes the babies' suffering is painted as something bad."

"Jim Pouillon is a hero," said Monica Migliorino Miller of South Lyon, the director of Citizens for a Pro-life Society. “Jim died while giving a peaceful witness to the sacredness of human life. He stood outside of the local high school on many occasions holding a sign of a baby to send a message to the students that abortion is the taking of innocent life.

"Now his life has been taken as he stood in witness against the injustice of abortion.

"When violence is aimed at those who provide abortion - pro-life leaders are swift to condemn it. We call on the pro-abortion community to condemn this violence against Jim Pouillon. Many have already blamed Jim for his own death because he dared to stand on the street with a pro-life sign. Such a point of view is atrocious and grossly irresponsible.”

Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) this morning 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."

Fr. Pavone also called for "a renewal of unity within the pro-life community, coming to one another's assistance supporting one another, and by no means allowing fear or intimidation to have any role in our lives, but rather to move forward in peaceful organized ways to stand against this evil of abortion."

Bradley Mattes, Executive Director of Life Issues Institute, said, "It's hard to imagine the hatred that motivates someone to murder, regardless of which side of the debate they're on. It's all desperately wrong.

"The murder of millions of innocent unborn babies is spilling out onto the streets of America. I pray we can stop the killing on all fronts. Our prayers are with Jim's family."

Lila Rose, the President of Live Action Media also sent out a release, saying, "We are greatly saddened and disturbed by the murder of pro-life activist, Jim Pouillon.

"We condemn the violent act which robbed Jim of his life, and we stand with him in his protest against our nation's violence to the unborn.

"Now is the time for the pro-life community to stand with even more courage and unity against abortion. We will work tirelessly until our nation recognizes the right to life of every human being, even the smallest and weakest."

"American Life League is heartbroken over the loss of a true pro-life hero," said Shaun Kenney, executive director of American Life League, "gunned down on the day Americans across the country mourn the violent deaths of 3,017 people. What a terrible irony that his death, on this day of infamy, brings to mind the 50 million innocent lives lost to abortion.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and community in the wake of this tragedy, and we renew our call for peace and prayer as the only remedies for the culture of violence."

"Since a motive has not yet been determined, speculation is useless, if not harmful," cautioned Kenney. "We commend the Shiawassee County sheriff’s department for its swift apprehension of the suspect, and we pray for God’s justice and mercy."

BREAKING: Pro-Life Activist Shot and Killed in Michigan

From LifeSiteNews
By Kathleen Gilbert

A pro-life activist was shot multiple times and killed this morning in front of Owosso High School in Michigan, according to local police cited in the Flint Journal newspaper.

Locals say that the victim, James Pouillon of Owosso, was well-known in the area for his pro-life activities. Local columnist Doug Powers wrote on his blog that Pouillon, known as “the abortion sign guy," was known for standing on street corners holding up signs with pictures of aborted children.

A second individual was shot and killed in a different area of the city shortly afterward, and the two shootings are believed to be related, according to Shiawassee County sheriff George Braidwood. Police confirmed that a suspect was taken into custody at the suspect's home shortly after the 7:30 a.m. shooting.

A black car was parked near the scene of the shooting, where a portable oxygen tank lay in a front yard next to a large sign with the word "Life" and an image of a baby.

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."

Secondly, Fr. Pavone called for "a renewal of unity within the pro-life community, coming to one another's assistance supporting one another, and by no means allowing fear or intimidation to have any role in our lives, but rather to move forward in peaceful organized ways to stand against this evil of abortion."

Developing...