Most anti-abortion rights groups condemn Tiller murder

In case you missed them, most anti-abortion rights activists have come out and condemned the murder of Kansas physician George Miller on Sunday.

Here is the National Right to Life’s statement, from their executive director, David O’Steen:

National Right to Life extends its sympathies to Dr. Tiller’s family over this loss of life.

Further, the National Right to Life Committee unequivocally condemns any such acts of violence regardless of motivation. The pro-life movement works to protect the right to life and increase respect for human life. The unlawful use of violence is directly contrary to that goal.

And here is statement from American Life League’s executive Director Shaun Kenney:

“Leaders within the pro-life movement often discuss justice in connection with our mission to end the tragedy of abortion. Today, Dr. George Tiller’s life ended in an act defying those principles.

“With genuine sorrow, we reflect on today’s events in prayer. Justice for all human beings includes the lives of those with whom we fundamentally disagree as well as the victims of abortion. We firmly hope the perpetrators of this act are apprehended, that the facts be made known, and that justice according to the law is preserved and dispensed.”

Some in the conservative blogosphere have also chimed in. While Allahpundit isn’t part of these groups, he offered this statement:

As for those who condemn the murder while merrily hoping that he’s burning in hell, let a poor confused atheist ask you this: Isn’t the proper Christian response to any death to pray that God will have mercy on a flawed, fallible sinner, who’s now at last seen the error of his ways? Tiller might have changed his mind about abortion and repented in years to come but his killer’s deprived him of the chance. No prayers that God will take that into consideration?

On the other hand, Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue, didn’t adamantly condemn the attack:

“We must not fear, we must not flinch, we must not retreat a single inch. George Tiller was a mass murderer, and we must continue to say so in his death just as we did in his life…

“We must continue to call abortionists ‘murderers’ according to the teachings of the Church; we must continue to peacefully expose and protest them; and we must continue to show the bloody remains of children that died at the hands of Tiller and his kind.”

Still, though, I have to see any Republican lawmakers say anything about the murder. Only a few Democrats (Obama, Pelosi) have released statements.

I just went through all of Kansas congressional delegation and didn’t find any statements on their websites.

jeremy.jacobs@digital-stage.thehill.com