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Governor Hickenlooper: Time to tone down Planned Parenthood rhetoric

Calls to curb ‘inflammatory rhetoric’ and investigate as terrorism
Colorado Springs shooting suspect Robert Dear, right, appears via video before Judge Gilbert Martinez, with public defender Dan King, at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center on Monday for his first court appearance, where he was told he faces first-degree murder charges.

DENVER – Planned Parenthood supporters are urging a federal investigation into domestic terrorism following Friday’s Colorado Springs shooting, as Gov. John Hickenlooper called for toning-down “inflammatory rhetoric.”

Investigators, as of Monday afternoon, had not released a clear motive in connection with the tragedy that took three lives, including a police officer and two civilians.

The suspect, identified as Robert Lewis Dear Jr., 57, allegedly attacked a Planned Parenthood clinic. Media reports – which have not been officially disputed by law enforcement – state that Dear referred to “baby parts” in a statement to authorities after the shootings.

Hickenlooper, a Democrat, suggested that it may be time to scale-back comments against the abortion provider Planned Parenthood given the most recent attack.

“While this certainly is a form of terrorism, the facts aren’t in yet as the investigation continues,” Hickenlooper told The Durango Herald in an emailed statement. “I think it’s time to look at how we tone down some of the inflammatory rhetoric. Debate on controversial issues is fine, and obviously no one is going to try and reduce free speech in this country, but that rhetoric may have a bigger influence, especially on the emotionally unstable or psychologically unbalanced.”

Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, a Republican and former state attorney general, added to speculation about the shooter’s motive when he stated that people can make “inferences from where it took place.”

U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch added: “This unconscionable attack was not only a crime against the Colorado Springs community, but a crime against women receiving health care services at Planned Parenthood.”

Planned Parenthood supporters point to increased vitriol in recent months, stemming from allegations that the reproductive-health provider trafficked fetal body parts.

Pro-life group Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released videos over the summer that the group says shows Planned Parenthood profiting from fetal-tissue programs. The secretly recorded videos were heavily edited, according to forensic experts who submitted their findings to congressional panels.

“When hate rhetoric and threats incite violence, those responsible for committing violence need to be investigated for their acts of domestic terrorism,” a coalition led by NARAL Pro-Choice America wrote to Lynch hours before the attacks in Colorado Springs. “These appalling acts of violence are a predictable ripple effect from the deliberate and calculated smear campaign ... which has fueled violence by extremists.”

On Monday, the coalition added: “Our letter, sent just hours before the outrageous and tragic violence in Colorado Springs, is more important today than ever.”

A rally is planned for Tuesday at the Colorado Capitol to “demand that right-wing politicians in Colorado at every level apologize for their false claims about the organization that are increasing violence against women’s health care providers.”

Prosecution of the case most likely will remain in El Paso County, though a federal investigation in support of local prosecutors remains ongoing.

Colorado U.S. Attorney John Walsh has been in close contact with both the National Security Division and Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, indicating that both domestic terrorism and hate crimes remain statutory possibilities.

Dear made a procedural court appearance on Monday afternoon, where he was held on an initial charge of first-degree murder. Additional formal charges are expected next week. Dear could face the death penalty.

One of Planned Parenthood’s biggest critics, pro-life Colorado Family Action (CFA), which encouraged a recent “listening session” at the Colorado Capitol regarding fetal body parts, disassociated itself with the actions of the shooter.

“The pro-life movement works to increase respect and protection for all human life and this man’s actions go directly against that goal,” CFA Executive Director Debbie Chaves said in a statement on Monday. “Colorado Family Action has a long history of working through peaceful activism, education, legislation and service to bring about an end to abortion, euthanasia and other life-destroying actions.”

State Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, said people should be cautious before rushing to judgment on whether the incident should be classified as domestic terrorism. Roberts faced criticism from the pro-choice world this year after supporting fetal-homicide legislation.

“I wonder who is supposed to be doing the toning down, because I hear it coming from both ends ...” Roberts said. “Nobody who is staunchly pro-life, that I’m aware of, in any way condones the actions taken by the man in Colorado Springs.”

Colorado Springs Republican Sen. Kent Lambert, co-founder of the Republican Study Committee of Colorado, which organized the Planned Parenthood listening session at the Capitol earlier this month, said Friday’s incident should not detract from pro-life efforts.

“Some of the most recent statements put out by Planned Parenthood is that because this incident happened, or other incidents happened, we should just ignore everything else,” Lambert said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

pmarcus@durangoherald.com



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