The legalization of abortion may incite fear that humankind has gained too much control over the natural world. Although such fear is valid on a personal level, the translation of fear into violence unduly endangers the lives of others. Some see irony in the threat of death by individuals who claim to abhor the termination of human lives.
In 1993 a right-to-life activist fatally shot a doctor outside his clinic in Pensacola, Florida after threats by an activist organization. Following this incident, many medical practitioners from similar clinics around the USA resigned in fear for their lives. Others are protecting themselves and their clinics with bulletproof glass and firearms.
The violence of killing in the name of pro-life makes a mockery of the pro-life cause. Those that abhor the violence of abortion should also abhor violence as a dangerous and deplorable means to stop abortion.
The man that was killed -- and it was unfortunate -- should be glad he was not killed the same way that he has killed other people, which is limb by limb. Whilst we grieve for him and for his widow and children, we must also grieve for the thousands of children that he has murdered.