Mr Kopp; sentence for killing

[Pure]

what do you think.

Killer of abortion doctor gets life sentence


Jun 19, 2007 05:42 PM
associated press

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Militant abortion opponent James Kopp was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison plus 10 years on federal charges for the 1998 murder of a doctor who performed abortions.

Prosecutors had asked for consecutive life sentences for Kopp, who was convicted in 2003 on a charge of second-degree murder for Barnett Slepian's death.

Kopp showed no emotion as the verdict was read.

He wore an orange prison jump suit and held what looked like a yellow, plastic rosary.

He spoke for a full hour, rambling between legal cases and his personal feelings about abortion.

He insisted he never meant to kill Slepian, only to wound him, but that the bullets took an unexpected path.

"Tragic, horrible ricochet. That's how he died," Kopp said.

In January, a federal jury convicted him on related charges that he violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act by killing an abortion provider. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Mehltretter also asked for a life sentence on the count of using a firearm – in this case a scope-equipped military assault rifle.

Kopp, 52, was given life on the first charge and 10 years on the weapons charge.

Lynne Slepian read from a statement that she said was on behalf of her and her four sons, all of whom were sitting in the courtroom's front row. The boys were between seven and 15 when their father was killed.

"I want Mr. Kopp to go to jail knowing he killed a wonderful man."

She referred to the other anti-abortion extremists like Kopp who are still out there.

"We should all be very, very afraid that this sick mentality of James Kopp and his followers still exists."

"There are too many people who believe that what James Kopp did was not a crime, but a calling."

In her sentencing memo, Mehltretter wrote: "Dr. Slepian was gunned down in front of two of his children and his wife. A third child tried to help stem the flow of blood until paramedics arrived. For the survivors, the horror of the gun shot and seeing a loved one killed will remain with them forever."

Slepian was shot through a window of their home on Oct. 23, 1998.

Kopp, nicknamed "Atomic Dog," had been arrested more than 100 times protesting abortion. He is suspected in the nonfatal shootings of four other doctors, three in Canada and one in Rochester, and is charged with attempted murder in the 1995 shooting of Dr. Hugh Short in Ancaster, Ont.

Canadian authorities have expressed interest in prosecuting Kopp, but he would have to finish his U.S. sentences first.

Judge Richard Arcara received letters from at least eight Kopp supporters seeking leniency for Kopp, 52.

In a letter to the judge, Kopp wrote that several children are alive today because of Slepian's death. He used that claim to object to the US$2.6 million in restitution prosecutors are seeking for Slepian's widow.

After shooting Slepian, Kopp fled to Mexico, Ireland and finally France, where he was captured in March 2001. He was added to the FBI's list of the Ten Most Wanted fugitives in June 1999.

 

[R. Richard]

Kopp showed no emotion as the verdict was read.

He wore an orange prison jump suit and held what looked like a yellow, plastic rosary.

He spoke for a full hour, rambling between legal cases and his personal feelings about abortion.

He insisted he never meant to kill Slepian, only to wound him, but that the bullets took an unexpected path.

"Tragic, horrible ricochet. That's how he died," Kopp said.

Yeah, I believe what Kopp had to say. But then, I also believe in Santa claus and the Easter Beaster.

 

[rgraham666]

It's fair.

As long as they don't let him out.

Unsurprising is the man's total unwillingness to take responsibility for his actions.

 

[Guest]

The man is disturbing.

His punishment should be the same that any murderer receives.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I'm with Rob on that. It's ridiculous and disgusting for the man to describe as a "tragic accident" the death of a person whom he deliberately ambushed and shot. He has neither the decency of a civilized person who recognizes that murder is not a solution to his objections, nor even the courage of a wholly committed martyr who feels that he must take a life to save others.

The question of violence is a constant challenge to anyone who truly feels that lives are taken in the process of abortion. At times it's difficult not to feel that one has already done wrong if one does not resist the presence of an abortion clinic the way one would resist a person actively murdering a child in the street. But it seems to me that Christ and the Bible do also recognize that it's important to create a society in which people don't murder each other with impunity, and in which we earnestly attempt to resolve our differences without violence. Once we start down the road of using violence because we feel strongly that we are right, we're bound to discover that everyone else feels strongly that they are right as well, and that they too will use violence once the option is on the table. We destroy the goodwill and trust that societies need not just in order to function, but in order to foster moral and ethical behavior itself.

Shanglan

 

[poppy1963]

Fair....as Rob said and I hope they don't let him out either. I do see him as one who would repeat such a thing. As has been noted, he takes no responsibility...rather blaming "fate"...an ill-fated bullet.

 

[Pure]

i was surprised by the "accident" routine.

not knowing him, i thought "atomic dog" would say, " i saved hundreds of lives by killing the murdering SOB and i'd do it again. God will absolve me." this would be a fanatical and crazed, but at least courageous, principled, civil disobedience.

 

[slyc_willie]

Ironic that a man who protests the murder of unborn children resorts to the same act to make his point.

I can see the basics of Kopp's argument against abortion. Personally, I'm still not one hundred percent sure of my stance on the subject at the moment, though I lean toward freedom of choice. But understanding Kopp's rationalizations and reasons does not mean I agree with him. While I will state that violence is sometimes necessary, shooting a man through a window, in front of his family, is simple cowardice.

I find it rediculous that he would claim Slepian's death as a 'tragic accident.' You don't fire an assault rifle at someone with the mere intention of wounding them. Trained snipers have a hard time doing so, and I doubt Kopp has that kind of training. Clearly, his intention was murder. For that, he deserves his sentence and anything else he might suffer if, upon parole, he is prosecuted in Canada.

 

[oggbashan]

I would consider him as a terrorist, attacking an innocent civilian for performing a legal activity.

It is legitimate to campaign for a change in the law. It is an act of terrorism to shoot someone for doing something you disagree with.

Og

 

[Stella_Omega]

I know that each trial of a man is supposed to be on its own merits and his previous history is supposed to be separate. But this man has committed a great deal of violence in the past. It's pretty obvious that he is simply a violent man who's seized on an anti-abortion slogan as his excuse for hurting people. For people like him, the threat of punishment is no preventative-- all the same, I'd like to see him put to death. Societal revenge is a perfectly legitimate reason for Capitol punishment in certain cases, in my opinion.

 

[slyc_willie]

Societal revenge is a perfectly legitimate reason for Capitol punishment in certain cases, in my opinion.

I agree with you in principle, but putting Kopp to death might very well make him a martyr in the eyes of those who agree with him. And they constitute a good portion of the population.

Better to just put him away and let him disappear.

 

[cantdog]

It's fair.

As long as they don't let him out.

Unsurprising is the man's total unwillingness to take responsibility for his actions.

He seemed willing enough to accept responsibility to me.

I am disappointed that he was not considered, even by the US attorney, to be a terrorist.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I agree with you in principle, but putting Kopp to death might very well make him a martyr in the eyes of those who agree with him. And they constitute a good portion of the population.

Better to just put him away and let him disappear.

Like Charles Manson. *nods*

 

[BlackShanglan]

i was surprised by the "accident" routine.

not knowing him, i thought "atomic dog" would say, " i saved hundreds of lives by killing the murdering SOB and i'd do it again. God will absolve me." this would be a fanatical and crazed, but at least courageous, principled, civil disobedience.

Yes. Bad enough to be willing to take another person's life, but to be a coward about it really gives the lie to his claim of some principled motivation.

 

[slyc_willie]

Yes. Bad enough to be willing to take another person's life, but to be a coward about it really gives the lie to his claim of some principled motivation.

The man's only motivation is his own warped sense of morality. Sadly, there seem to be quite a few people like him in the world. And even more to pay attention to him and give his argument credence.

 

[Stella_Omega]

The man's only motivation is his own warped sense of morality. Sadly, there seem to be quite a few people like him in the world. And even more to pay attention to him and give his argument credence.

I don't think he is motivated by any sense of morality. I think he likes shooting at people first of all-- and happened upon an anti-abortion rationale. It could have been anything.

 

[rgraham666]

I don't think he is motivated by any sense of morality. I think he likes shooting at people first of all-- and happened upon an anti-abortion rationale. It could have been anything.

I find that is the rationale behind most violence. The people performing it like it.

And there are as many rationalizations for it as their are human beings.

 

[SeaCat]

He deserves this and more.

he shot from a distance, not enough guts to do the deed face to face.

He was using a rifle with attached scope and yet he didn't know the bullet could be deflected by the glass?

He shot at the doctor from a distance and didn't want to kill him?

The guys as full of shit as a constipated glutton.

Cat

 

[amicus]

I'm with Rob on that. It's ridiculous and disgusting for the man to describe as a "tragic accident" the death of a person whom he deliberately ambushed and shot. He has neither the decency of a civilized person who recognizes that murder is not a solution to his objections, nor even the courage of a wholly committed martyr who feels that he must take a life to save others.

The question of violence is a constant challenge to anyone who truly feels that lives are taken in the process of abortion. At times it's difficult not to feel that one has already done wrong if one does not resist the presence of an abortion clinic the way one would resist a person actively murdering a child in the street. But it seems to me that Christ and the Bible do also recognize that it's important to create a society in which people don't murder each other with impunity, and in which we earnestly attempt to resolve our differences without violence. Once we start down the road of using violence because we feel strongly that we are right, we're bound to discover that everyone else feels strongly that they are right as well, and that they too will use violence once the option is on the table. We destroy the goodwill and trust that societies need not just in order to function, but in order to foster moral and ethical behavior itself.

Shanglan

~~~


Wasn't going to participate in this thread, although a few were actually reasonable in their comments on a very controversial subject.

Shanglan makes the point of many who not just 'feel' or 'believe', but Know, that a life is taken when an abortion is performed.

As for the issue the poster put forth, life imprisonment for a murderer; due process was followed and the defendants rights were protected. My wish is that all who take a life, every abortion doctor and nurse and the woman who consented and anyone else who might be named as an accessory to the crime, be also punished in the same manner.

It was the final sentence in Shanglan's post that prompted me to respond.

"...We destroy the goodwill and trust that societies need not just in order to function, but in order to foster moral and ethical behavior itself...."

I read what you said this way, 'even though you know the act of a violent abortion is a criminal, immoral act, you must adhere to the dictates of a society to foster moral and ethical behavior, and not respond with violence.'

I pose this as both a statement and an interrogatory; Are their circumstances in which meeting violence with violence is ever justified on a society wide scale?

Moral questions and imperatives can often be difficult to deal with. The Founders of the United States were divided in their opinions concerning human slavery, an issue that festered for many years before the 'violence' of the Civil War, pitted brother against brother and State against State to resolve the issue.

I am also reminded of the Warsaw Ghetto, after the Germans conquered Poland in 1939 and began the, 'final solution', genocide committed against millions. The world basically stood by and watched as the horrors unfolded. That includes the Catholic Church, who, to maintain even a minimum status in Germany, acquiesced to the ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the Nazi's.

There are many who are in moral shock at the tens of millions of abortions, each that has taken a life, that goes unopposed and unpunished in a society that claims, as Shanglan imports: "... in order to foster moral and ethical behavior itself...."

Do we indeed, 'foster moral and ethical behavior', in a society by permitting these murders to continue? Do we not have a moral obligation to go to the rescue of innocent life so threatened?

And is not, perhaps, the use of extreme force justified?

Just thoughts...


amicus...

 

[Pure]

Some historical material from the militant pro life persons.

Defense of Kopp, criticism of government's case, and of the evidence.

Interesting to read with hindsight, including testimony about Kopp's non violent approach, and the suggestion that Slepian was about to convert to Catholicism and was murdered by pro abortion persons.


http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b8076843d8a.htm

Is the FBI Framing James Kopp? Was abortionist Slepian considering converting to Catholicism?


Source: Traditional Catholic Reflections and Reports

Author: Fred Martinez

Posted on 08/19/2001 19:31:32 PDT by proud2bRC

Is the FBI Framing Fugitive?

===

Militant "Pro Life" Site,
www.ldi.org

===

 

[Pure]

thanks for coming out, ami,

was afraid you'd decline. glad to have you suggesting the possible justification of killing. lots of juicy holocaust talk.

you don't disappoint!



PS. Ideally, of course, it would be the state that would execute abortion providers, I assume. Kopp, as citizen and 'vigilante' merely stepped in where the state neglected its duty. Right?

 

[amicus]

was afraid you'd decline. glad to have you suggesting the possible justification of killing. lots of juicy holocaust talk.

you don't disappoint!



PS. Ideally, of course, it would be the state that would execute abortion providers, I assume. Kopp, as citizen and 'vigilante' merely stepped in where the state neglected its duty. Right?

~~~

And your motive for posting this thread? C'mon, fess up, we all know anyway.

You did note my reference to due process? Like deporting upteen million illegals, it would be a difficult process to 'prosecute', not 'execute', the millions responsible for abortions.

amicus...

 

[Pure]

ami,

practicalities are one thing, principle is another. the first step is clearly to get the death penalty for abortion
provision/performance/counselling/procuring/obtaining-- back on the books. due process of course.

yes, it's hard to prosecute millions, but sometimes a few well chosen exemplary cases, followed by public execution, would 'send a message.'

i know too, that, having a soft spot in your heart for the 'fair sex,' you'd tend to be forgiving of the poor, unreasoning soul obtaining the procedure, but properly harsh on those calculating collectivist males encouraging her to the crime and committing it on her behalf.

 

[amicus]

Aside from the mud slinging and the obfuscation, you did not answer why posted this thread in the first place.

Typical.

Maybe someone else would venture a guess?

amicus

 

[The_Fool]

Interesting question.


When does an act of violence (or terrorism) become an action of a revolutionary?