UPDATE: A federal judge refused to grant a preliminary injunction yesterday that would have banned anti-abortion activist Angel Dillard from coming near a doctor training to perform abortions in Wichita, the Associated Press reported. Dillard is accused of sending a threatening letter to Dr. Mila Means that referred to explosives being placed under Means' car and that talked about anti-abortion activists stalking Means.
However, Judge J. Thomas Marten didn't see the letter as a threat but did believe it was meant to intimidate Means. Really, judge? The letter in question was allegedly sent by a woman who said she admired the man who assassinated abortion provider George Tiller. Read the rest of the update after the jump ...
Original Story (April 18): Angel Dillard, the Kansas woman accused of sending a threatening letter to a
doctor training to perform abortions in Wichita, claims she never intended to make a "true threat," according to the Associated Press.
"I do not personally believe in acts of violence against anyone,
including abortion providers, and have never had any intent or desire to
personally perform such acts," Dillard wrote in an affidavit filed in
federal court. "I have never intended to
make a true threat of force against Dr. Means and have never done so."
The
U.S. Justice Department filed a civil complaint against Dillard for
violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act),
which outlaws intimidation and threats of force against abortion
providers and those seeking reproductive health services.
On about January 15, Dillard mailed a letter to Dr. Mila Means, in
which she allegedly makes references to explosives being placed under
"Thousands of people are already looking into your background,
not just
in Wichita, but from all over the U.S." Dillard wrote in the
letter. "They will know your habits and
routines. They will know where
you shop, who your friends are, what you drive, where you live. You
will be checking under your car everyday-because maybe today is the day
someone places an explosive under it."
In her affidavit, the 44-year-old Valley Center
woman claims she's never been to Means' clinic or home and wouldn't
recognize her if she saw her. She also denies contacting Means before or
after sending the letter. And she claims she hasn't picketed an abortion clinic in 20 years.
The Justice Department is seeking an order permanently barring Dillard
from
contacting Means and coming within 250 feet of Means, her home, her car
or her place of business. The government is also seeking damages of
$5,000 for the doctor and a civil penalty of $15,000.
In a declaration, Means wrote that she intends to
perform abortions in Wichita. She also wrote that she knew that Dillard
had corresponded with Scott Roeder, the man who assassinated
Wichita's last abortion provider, George Tiller, during his incarceration.
The AP reported on Dillard's friendship with Roeder in a July 2009
story.
"With one move, (Roeder) was able ... to accomplish what we had not been
able to do," Dillard told the AP. "So he followed his convictions, and I
admire that."
Dillard's attorney reportedly argued in a motion that "a person who
informs someone that he or she is in danger from a third party has not
made a threat."
The AP reports that a hearing on the government's request for a temporary restraining order to keep Dillard away from Means and her clinic is scheduled for Wednesday.
Dillard was featured in the 2009 documentary film What's the Matter with Kansas? See her introduction below.
UPDATE:
The Associated Press reported that Judge J. Thomas Marten issued this ruling from the bench:
"The First Amendment is the absolute bedrock of this country's freedom, and I think the ability to express an opinion on a topic that is important to one -- even if it is controversial -- has to be protected so long as the line is not crossed and becomes a true threat. I don't think this letter constitutes a true threat," Marten said in his ruling from the bench.The judge went so far as to say that it's "pretty questionable" that the government's case will be successful.
"The association with Scott Roeder magnifies the concern of the threat. But because of the words she used, I think the letter is threatening even without that," Means said.She also reportedly said she's still planning to offer abortion services in Wichita and has set up a nonprofit to raise money to buy a building.
Showing 1-20 of 20
Jack, move to Iran. You will fit in better there. You are a bad American. We don't want you here.
Can you imagine Jesus threatening to blow some-one up (come on that WAS her fantasy) or admiring someone who shot someone else in cold blood? These are the tactics of terrorists - not Christians. This woman has been tempted by self-righteousness. Jesus of Nazareth preached love, forgiveness, goodness and peace. This is a far cry from the Christian ultra-right who seem to think they know better and thereby trash Christ and Christianity. God is love. Not this kind of action.
Terrorist Threatening? It's a FELONY!
Is the D.A. lazy, a coward, or a traitor to the Law?
Angel Dillard has free speech. These babykilling abortionists want to murder children and have no one say anything about it. What hypocrites, they murder children, then attack a woman for writing a letter.
There are two medical clinics in Mo. which perform abortion, both are in St. Louis. If you live in KC, you have to travel to Overland Park to get an abortion. You don't have a vagina. Mind your own biz!
My greatest fear is months from now if Angel Dillard succeeds in her threats to blow up Dr. Means, to kill this woman, we will all be looking at this as we all looked at the activities of murderer Scott Roeder in the months leading up to his killing of George Tiller. We'll all look at the these past months and wonder what could have been done to stop Angel Dillard. It is simple. Proceed with legal actions against this woman for threatening the life of another citizen; another person. It is against the law to threaten murder and mayhem in nearly every state and certainly to write it. She has told us all what she is going to do to Dr. Means and others. It is up to our society, which is a society of laws, to STOP HER.
Yeah, Kansas does suck....but we can make ourselves feel a little bit better by reminding ourselves that Oklahoma is worse.
Does an all powerful "GOD" which most of these morons professed an un-dying unshakable faith in even enter in to their simple minded thinking?
The bible tells us clearly that GOD says.... "Before I created you...I knew you"
So this same GOD delivers his creation to this earth to be aborted by mere lottery or bad luck of the draw?
Not only are you people an insult to GOD...you are an insult to yourselves.
If GOD intends you to be on this earth...you will be on this earth and the physical body your soul ultimately occupies is irrevent.
WAKE UP PEOPLE !!!!
"What's the matter with Kansas?" as the book asks. It seems just about everything is the matter with Kansas. One more thing for me to add to the things I'm grateful for...I don't live in Kansas and never will.
This is the same woman who gave Thomas Etheredge money for Wild West World because he was a good Christian.
"Angel Dillard appeared in the What's the Matter with Kansas? film". Well people like here are what's the matter with Kansas. At least Kansas Voter knows what he's talking about.
"However, Judge J. Thomas Marten didn't see the letter as a threat but did believe it was meant to intimidate Means."
And the difference is what? If I sent that exact same letter to Judge Marten I guarantee that he would see it as a threat.
Kendall posts another great article on the lunatics in Kansas. It's a cottage industry and growing faster than Gov. Brokeback's latest crazy delusional capitalist scheme, a horse riding park in the Flint Hills .... http://www.kansas.com/2011/04/... Great job, Justin! Angel needs a hand job, badly!
Joe,
So you SUPPORT paying MORE in Taxes for WELFARE? You also would support Obama getting a FORCED ADOPTION law?
Kansas,
The only time Pro Lifers care about babies is between conception & birth. After that if they die of starvation, No medical care, or abuse then it's not their problem. In short they kill em AFTER they are born.
We're talking about fetuses, not babies. Why don't you understand that? Nobody wants to kill a baby.
I suppose you would say the same thing about privately-funded guillotines used on babies, or are we not talking about human life here? And... it's not just Christians that are hypocritical. It tends to be basic human nature of EVERYONE.
Take a hint. Kansas don't want hypocritical "christians" with their phony "values" telling the rest of us what to do. Abortion is a legal medical procedure. If you don't like abortions, don't have one. Otherwise, you need to mind your own business.
Is it just me, or do she and Roeder remind anybody else of a real-life version of Robert Duvall and Sally Kellerman?
Take a hint. Kansas doesn't want abortionists within state boundaries. Don't come here. If you are a Kansas woman needing an abortion, GO TO MISSOURI!! And if you are coming from outside of Kansas, YOU'RE TRAVELING ANYWAY! Go to Missouri. Figure it out!!
like
dislike
