NARAL Finally Condemns Shooting of Pro-Lifer, Ignores Pro-Abortion Motivation
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 11, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Leading pro-abortion organization NARAL appears to be the first and only major group that backs abortion to issue a statement condemning today’s shooting of Michigan pro-life advocate Jim Pouillon.
However, the statement denies confirmation by local officials that the shooting was motivated by Pouillon’s pro-life stance and abortion protests.
“Today’s shootings in Michigan are tragic and our thoughts are with the families so deeply affected by this senseless violence," NARAL president Nancy Keenan says.
"Although law-enforcement officials still have not commented on the shooter’s motivation, we understand that one of those murdered today was an anti-choice activist," she added.
However, that’s not the case.
Sara Edwards, the chief assistant prosecutor for Shiawassee County, has confirmed that Pouillon’s pro-life stance was the reason he was targeted and said the suspect in custody, 33-year-old Harlan Drake has confirmed that was why he shot Pouillon.
“There was some displeasure with how open he was,” she said. “He tended to carry big signs with very graphic pictures of fetuses.”
In her statement, Keenan also tried to exploit the death of the pro-life advocate for political gain — by drawing attention back to the recent shooting death of late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller.
"We know all too well the chilling effect that shootings and other forms of violent intimidation have on people who have strongly held beliefs about this most personal issue," she said.
Washington Times writer Kerry Picket noticed the NARAL statement and the response from the National Right to Life Committee — to today’s shooting and that of Tiller.
Following the Tiller killing, she said NARAL :released a statement that was not only heavily political but also attacked pro-life activists as well."
"Today in Owosso, Michigan, pro-life activist James Pouillon was shot several times in front of Owosso High School and died. The National Right to Life Committee’s (NRLC) response did not attack their opponents on the issue of abortion but rather emphasized their mission to protect innocent life," she noted in comparison.
"Unlike NARAL with Dr. Tiller’s murder, the NRLC did not use the violence against Mr. Pouillon to score cheap political points," Picket writes.
Other pro-abortion groups have been slow to condemn the shooting — something the Times noted.
"The Washington Times contacted NARAL and other pro-choice organizations for a response to the shooting, and we are waiting to hear back from them," it reported.
CNS News indicated that its inquiries to the the press office for Planned Parenthood and NARAL were not answered.
Emily’s List, Planned Parenthood, NOW and other prominent pro-abortion gorups have yet to respond.
Father Frank Pavone, the head of Priests for Life, had this to say about the lack of a pro-abortion reaction: "I call on the leaders of the so called ‘pro-choice’ movement to condemn this killing and to consider all of the people who lose their lives to abortion every single day.”
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