Pro-life Man Shot and Killed in Michigan, Nuts Rejoice (Update)
John on September 11, 2009 at 10:18 am
From the Flint News:
Path of the bullets through the sign carried by Jim Pouillon
An anti-abortion activist gunned down Friday morning in front of Owosso High School has been identified as James Lawrence Pouillon, 63, of Owosso.
Pouillon was a longtime abortion protester, known for his highly vocal and visible public demonstrations around the community and even outside the state.
Longtime friend and fellow activist Judy Climer, president of Flint Right to Life, described Pouillon as “just a nice, elderly gentleman who was disabled, used an oxygen tank and wore leg braces.”
Climer said Pouillon had a regular weekly schedule of visits to abortion clinics in Flint and Saginaw, where he would park across the street and pray when abortions were allegedly being conducted.
“I knew him very well. He told me one time God put in his heart a passion for the little babies that have the right to be born and they were being denied that right,” said Climer, who said Pouillon often stopped at her office for coffee breaks as he drove from one location to another to demonstrate.
“He even told me once he’d be willing to die for that belief. That’s what I hear him saying right now.”
The 33 year old shooter also killed another older man, owner of a gravel pit nearby. His name has not been released yet.
The Flint News has published every violation of law Pouillon ever had, including tickets for seat belt violations, speeding and littering. Why is all this relevant? Is the Flint News trying out the “he brought this on himself” argument?
It’s still possible his pro-life views weren’t the motive for his murder, though he was holding a pro-life sign at the time he was shot. What’s indisputable is some of the vile stuff coming up in the comments on this story. A sample:
Finally someone took revenge for Eric Rudolf, Michael F. Griffin, Rev. Paul Jennings Hill, John Salvi, James Kopp, etc. These nut jobs have been killing in the name of Christ for years. I guess not EVERY life is precious. Fight fire with fire. – PTrollinger
Kill the zealot, kill the zealot, kill the zealot! – llortamai
The way past lifers, deathers and birthers is to make them so scared they lock themselves in their homes and sit with their guns in their laps. – herden
I woke up to great news this morning, Its about time! – eastside32
The old man got what he was asking for. He was asking for publicity and he got it… people need to be careful what they ask for. – jsjsjs
I guess someone has taken Obama’s call for a day of service to the community seriously. – cjspeaks
They aren’t all like that. There are some responsible people on the left saying things like this:
Did I necessarily agree with how this man protested or the graphic pictures he used? No, not at all. But the fact is that someone gunned him down while he exercising his right of free speech. So I’m absolutely disgusted with people who are forgetting that. – ally2010
I think most people on the left probably feel more like that last comment, but given the focus on the “climate of hate” after the Tiller shooting, I think it’s worth pointing out that there is plenty of hate to go around.
Update: This is shocking if true. I thought the sequence of events was the other way around. I guess we’ll see.
Meanwhile, the folks commenting at HuffPost are certain this had nothing to do with abortion. Nothing at all.
Update 2: USA Today has the name of the shooter:
Harlan Drake of Owosso, near Lansing, was arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder and other gun-related crimes. Prosecutors said Drake also had planned to kill a third, unidentified person.
“The indication is that he had ill will … a grudge against these three individuals,” said Shiawassee County Prosecutor Randy Colbry. “The defendant was offended by the manner of Mr. Pouillon’s message.”
So it’s confirmed now. This wasn’t random. It was a killing over someone’s speech about abortion.
Detroit News has a slightly different quote:
In the case of Pouillon, Drake was offended by Pouillon’s photos of fetuses, the chief said. “Mr. Drake did not believe children should view the graphic material on the signs Mr. Pouillon carried,” Compeau said.
So instead he murdered Pouillon in front of these same students. Good thinking. According to the same story, it sounds as if the sign he was holding at the time of his death was not gruesome at all:
Pouillon had been holding a photo at the time of his death of a 4-month-old infant with the word “Life” above the picture. The photo was of Trewhella’s [a local pro-life leader's] son.
Okay, it was a double-sided sign. One side said Life. The other side said abortion:
Update 3: According to the Flint News, we’re part of a “feeding frenzy” now.
Category: Pro-Life |
I was disheartened to hear about this killing. Here is an elderly gentleman who had true beliefs about life and was willing to let the public know. . .if all of us had such courage to live out our principles.
It’s difficult for me to believe that a nation that has called itself Christian for so long has become unchristian in its behavior at times. At times, I think we should be charged with fraud when people call themselves Christian then act in a different manner.
May Mr. Pouillon spirit hover all who cherish life, and may His spirit see the face of God.
The Flint Newspaper – nothing but unkindly remarks
September 11, 2009 @ 10:35 amI doubt that this man will get the coverage that Dr. Tiller-the abortionist-received. After all, this was not a hate crime.
September 11, 2009 @ 3:06 pmIt is unfortunate that Pouillon was murdered however he should not have exposed children to his grafic pictures of fetuses. He was a fanatic and should have kept his thoughts to himself
September 11, 2009 @ 4:05 pmThis was a cowardly act taken out on someone with the belief that Life starts at conception as many of us do. I firmly believe the shooter should be given the death penalty (under federal law it is allowed). This can be looked at as a serial killing/hate crime. It was NOT random, and it was based on the hatred of someone else’s beliefs that drove him to kill them. As far as the traffic violations of the victim.. making that public made NO sense what so ever, since it had NO bearing on the killing what so ever. I don’t recall seeing anything about the victims family! That would be relevant to the story!
September 11, 2009 @ 4:56 pmNotice the use of “anti-abortion” rather than “pro-life” – what we call ourselves. This lends credibility to your assertion that they published all of his civil violations to imply that he had it coming.
Everyone I’ve met/talked to from Michigan has been completely sick. Completely.
This brother was martyred.
Rev 6:9-11
September 11, 2009 @ 5:09 pmMaybe Obamanure will say that the gunman acted stupidly and then have him over to the White House for a beer. After all, they have one thing in common – they’re both pro-death baby killers. Who knows, maybe the Messiah will give this murderer a medal?
September 11, 2009 @ 5:32 pmOur thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. Pouillon. It is a sad, sad, day in America when one cannot stand up for what they believe in without being afraid for their life. It is amazing to me that people are so offended about the pictures of fetuses. If they don’t believe they are any more than a blob of cells, they should not be offended to look at the picture. On the other hand if they see little hands and feet that have been ripped from the body of a REAL HUMAN, then they should feel bad. God Bless Mr. Pouillon.
September 11, 2009 @ 5:44 pmDon’t forget the other victim, Mike Fuoss. He had nothing to do with abortion, for or against. He was killed because the shooters mother got fired from his gravel business many years ago. The killer also intended on killing a local realtor, but was apprehended before he could do so. The realtor, tool, had nothing to do with abortion. So it is not all about Poullions views…
September 11, 2009 @ 6:46 pmObviously, something just not right with the killers head.
Fr. Frank Pavone said before we can stop abortion we must first see abortion. That is why we must show
September 11, 2009 @ 6:54 pmphotos of aborted babies. They deserve the light of the truth to shine on their disgarded bodies.
God have Mercy on Us and on the Whole World.
Poullion was a terrorist…he was not a nice man.
He yelled “Obama wants to kill your baby” to me, my 8 year old son and my wife who was pregnant at the time. (we had an Obama sticker in our window–ironic he hides behind freedom of speech yet does not respect those same freedoms for others)Needless to say my son was crying and upset–terrorized by this event. I calmly repeatedly replied that god loves him and forgives him–regardless of his twisted views. Then had to calm my wife down and reassure my son that our President did not have a mission to harm his baby sister whom was in the womb.
September 11, 2009 @ 7:43 pmReally? He tried to blow you up in a crowded marketplace? He pointed an Ak-47 at your head?
That doesn’t follow. He yelled something at you so…he doesn’t want you to have First Amendment rights?
Bummer about what he said to your “wife,” because that was certainly uncalled for. But the writing style of your comment sure reads like it’s actually a woman writing it instead of a man.
Obama does appear to have a soft spot in his heart for killing the unborn. He even likes partial birth abortion. but you’re probably right, he didn’t want to kill you’re baby personally.
September 11, 2009 @ 11:09 pmNo offense, PRCalDude, but you may have wanted to say ‘your’ baby rather than ‘you’re’…
Any case though, minor grammar nitpick, I make tons of those m’self. I don’t think calling Jason a ‘girly-man’ (essentially) is really warranted either, though. I mean, I don’t think you’d be too sympathetic towards someone talking about your children like that, right? Nobody wants to hear that their child may be endangered, regardless of whether or not Obama wants to kill other children or whatever.
Still, I do agree with you, as in-your-face as this guy may have been, he in no way deserved to die. If pro-choicers want to complain about violence being directed against them, I hope now they look at the example of this poor man–no matter how misguided they think he was–and be a bit more circumspect about their rhetoric.
I doubt that’ll happen, though.
September 12, 2009 @ 12:26 am[...] Pro-life Man Shot and Killed in Michigan, Nuts Rejoice - Verum Serum [...]
September 12, 2009 @ 2:36 amHuh????? How’d you get that?
September 12, 2009 @ 3:20 amThe title of this article is inflammatory, and incorrect. I have yet to hear anybody rejoice over this murder, and even your examples fail to justify this choice of words.
Let’s not forget their was another man murdered, and there would have been two more if not for the quick work of the police.
Oh, and PRCAldude: The fact that some in the media will choose a neutral term to describe your group rather than the term self-chosen by the group means only that they are trying to be objective. Also, your comments about Keith’s writing style were simply odd, especially considering that your spelling could use some editing.
September 12, 2009 @ 4:43 amJason, that is a frightening story, and as a father I have been in similar situations where zealots have frightened my children.
Surely, though, you are not using this story now in this sad time to try to justify this killing, are you?
I don’t think you are, but some might.
September 12, 2009 @ 4:48 amIf you read the article more closely, it is obvious that Poullion was not killed for opposing the right of women to have abortions. He was killed because a nutjob bought into the Christian Right’s propaganda that children should be protected by censoring materials they find objectionable.
September 12, 2009 @ 7:25 am[...] via Pro-life Man Shot and Killed in Michigan, Nuts Rejoice (Update) | Verum Serum. [...]
September 12, 2009 @ 8:04 am“Finally someone took revenge…” sounds like rejoicing to me, but how about “Pro-Abortion Nuts Praise Killing.” That works for me too.
Right, which is why the other side is called “pro-choice” (their chosen term) instead of pro-abortion.
libhomo,
That’s a clever spin. I’m sure someone in the national press will be using that soon.
September 12, 2009 @ 9:12 am[...] Pro-life Man Shot and Killed in Michigan, Nuts Rejoice - Verum Serum [...]
September 12, 2009 @ 9:20 amIt’s amazing how little it takes to become a martyr these days – just get shot, if you supported a cause, you’re instantly martyred for it.
Hope the gravel pit guy felt dying for the good of very small rocks was worth it.
September 12, 2009 @ 10:21 amHey, thanks for the grammar help. I usually try to edit what I write before I hit ‘submit,’ but sometimes errors slip through.
True. No one wants to hear it. I have a much higher standard of what constitutes “terrorism,” than Jason though. Big meanies saying mean things to me is not the equivalent of someone blowing me up in a crowded marketplace. Call me crazy.
September 12, 2009 @ 10:27 amIf you think there is any such thing as a “neutral term” in language (especially coming from reporters), I’ve got a bridge to sell you. How can the antecedents “pro” and “anti” be neutral? “For” and “against” are neutral terms in your mind?
September 12, 2009 @ 10:32 amThat’s right, libhomo. First, we caused the homosexual AIDS epidemic. Now, we’re coming for your children. Well, not your children.
September 12, 2009 @ 10:36 am[...] I read last night ,when I went searching for more info, after seeing this story on oreilly. http://www.verumserum.com/?p=8350 Read a bit down the page in the 2nd grey highlighted area. Calling the murder "community [...]
September 12, 2009 @ 11:22 amMary,
September 12, 2009 @ 12:05 pmSo who is the fanatic behind the new efforts to put disgusting pictures on cigarette cartons? Hmmm, oh yeah, that would be B. Obama, as per the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that he signed into law on June 22!
(forgot the link for reference)
September 12, 2009 @ 12:06 pmHe was killed because a nutjob bought into the Christian Right’s propaganda that children should be protected by censoring materials they find objectionable.
This is completely absurd. There may be a lack of evidence that the shooter was motivated by his opposition to people like Pouillon, but there’s even less evidence he was motivated by anything remotely resembling the boogeyman of “Christian Right censorship” or whatever. Why’d he try to kill those other people then? They weren’t displaying anything objectionable any more than they were pro-life either.
MG: I think in terms of people rejoicing, I think John was referring to the comments in the article. I mean, stuff like
“I woke up to great news this morning, Its about time!”
isn’t that just terrible? I wouldn’t even describe myself as fervently pro-life, but still…
September 12, 2009 @ 1:49 pmI have not even read the other comments, but I will tell I wish with every bone in my body the Flint News goes bankrupt, and the owners start selling apples on a street corner. They are a despicable bunch of people masquerading as reporters and journalists.
September 12, 2009 @ 6:40 pmFurthermore, what they tried to do implicitly is to say the homicide was justified because he a)had a speeding ticket b)littering c)stalking, one dismissed, one he was fined but no mention of what that was all about and a whole bunch of other non violent complaints.
Here is what they are truly saying, ‘it is ok to murder someone if that person is opposed to the secular progressive state’.
Not only do I wish the owners of that rag go bankrupt, I hope they rot in hell.
September 12, 2009 @ 7:01 pmSucking, scraping and dismembering a child from what should be the safest place in the world for it, it’s mother’s womb, is one of the most diabolical, Hitleristic acts perpetrated on the innocent. To show this in graphic detail is an attempt to wake people up to what really occurs in an abortion. The guy who killed Pouillon killed him because of his desparate attempts to save the innocent. The murderer had other people he wanted to kill as well, but the fact remains – Pouillon was martyred for the cause of the unborn.
Somewhere in the deep recesses of his Reverend Wright-influenced mind, I believe our president is gleeful that a pro-lifer was murdered. After all, he voted for legislation while in the state Senate of Illinois to provide no care for a child who survived an abortion. What a despicable position. Obamanure was also a champion of partial-birth abortion. Finally, Rick Warren asked Obamanure if he could have two hours of his time to go through the Scriptures and show Obamanure the error of his ways. Obamanure declined. This was heard throughout Southern California when Rick was interviewed on the Hugh Hewitt show.
Bottom Line – all of the pro-death baby killers out there are rejoicing that a pro-lifer finally took a bullet.
September 12, 2009 @ 9:09 pmKARMA
September 14, 2009 @ 8:41 pmWhat about the fanfare given by the anti-choice movement towards the guy who murdered Dr. Tiller – a man helping women and who was not breaking any laws. Maybe people on the pro-choice side of things are finally hoping that this will cause some fanatics on the Anti-Choice code of things to reconsider shooting doctors who in their belief are helping these women – some of whom would die if they were to conceive(notice I said fanatics and did not accuse ALL Anti-Choice/Pro-lifers). I do not believe that anyone on the pro-choice side wished anyone else dead. If they had, they would have sought retribution for all of the lives taken by hypocritical and fanatical anti-choicers. It seems to me that those who have killed in the name of God are selective about when they want to uphold their beliefs and make a mockery of Christianity…and if this guy killed this man in the name of God, then i am referring to him as well. Although, it is my belief that he acted out of a deranged state of mind and was “off-his-rocker” when he acted.
The Pro-Chioce movement is not stepping up to claim any responsibility for this man because he is not a known member of any of these organizations. Are they to be held accountable for every loon out there who kills someone with different views from theirs?
I just hope the violence ends…that those on the Anti-choice side stop killing doctors, aides, and other staff and that Pro-Choice people do not start seeking retribution for the lives of good citizens by loons. If they do, then they too will become loons as well…at which point, there will be no voice of moderation and freedom.
Freedom of speech should be retained as long as it does not threaten the lives of others. When signs start saying “Death to Doctors” or “Death to Protestors,” we have an abuse of that freedom. Good people should not live in fear of terrorism – verbal,mental or physical…one either side of the debate.
If you want a debate, schedule a safe forum with participants on both side to discuss…otherwise, play nicely with others who do not share your beliefs.
I believe the right to choose your belief is a personal one that should be decided by the mother, the family and the doctor. I believe that all options be considered and the safest and best one chosen for that particular case. I do not believe it is the rights of people who do not know the circumstances to make blanketed accusations and to try to harm or insert physical or mental abuse to change someone’s decision. Express your beliefs, but do so in a non-threatening fashion and in front of a school is not appropriate.
September 16, 2009 @ 12:27 pmPlease provide a link. There was no fanfare. Everyone denounced the murder as wrong.
I expect they should be held as accountable as the pro-choice movement holds pro-lifers accountable for the violent fringe that shares their views. I can point to a number of writers who blamed Tiller’s killing on the “climate” created by pro-lifers. Why can’t I do the same about this nut and pro-choicers?
So do I, including the violence done to healthy, viable babies in the name of “choice.”
And I believe that every human being has the right to life, even if that individual can’t speak for themselves.
September 16, 2009 @ 1:51 pmKill ‘em all, let God sort ‘em out.
Semper Fi
November 11, 2009 @ 12:27 pm