http://aikenareaprogressive.blogspot.com/2010/01/scott-roeder-convicted-now-it-is-time.html

The Hard-50 requires the state to prove one of 8 specific aggravating factors, only 1 of which could apply in this case. It is not really a good case for that factor, either, so I don’t know what to expect. I’ve never had a case where the prosecution asked for the Hard-50 and the judge didn’t give it, but this could be the one.

Also, remember there are two other convictions for aggravated assault. Those sentences could be run consecutively to the parole eligibility for the life sentence.

Did anyone else wonder about the scare-tactics vans that were parked outside? If the anti-choice movement doesn’t endorse Roeder, then what exactly were they doing there?

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

God has forbidden murder and lying and reserves the right to judge, something we have no business questioning because he is omnipotent and omniscient (except in those cases where the right person who worships the right god in the right way in order to be the instrument of his will). Keep on message!

I would really like to think this verdict might give other violence-prone anti-choice people pause. I hope so. I would also really like to think that someday women in the US will be able to exercise their right to reproductive choice and neither they nor their physicians will have to worry about fanatics attacking them. There are countries where this is true now, aren’t there?

When Dr. Tiller’s clinic was referred to as a “fortress”, I thought, “A doctor’s office has to be fortified? That’s a sad commentary on our society.”

… Which collectively made the pro-choice movement say, “Oh, I see. Because GOD clearly killed Tiller in a church.” Even using his own logic, he’s guilty in the eyes of the church as well as the law. Jackass.

Did anyone else wonder about the scare-tactics vans that were parked outside? If the anti-choice movement doesn’t endorse Roeder, then what exactly were they doing there?

So yes, I am very happy that this murdering terrorist is going to jail for life, and my heart goes out to Dr. Tiller’s family. He was a good, brave, person.

Given a first-degree murder conviction, it doesn’t make much difference if he gets 50 years or 25 years, in part because it would play the same either way to anti-choice activists and groups. What really would have made things better would have been if there had been another arrest, like of someone who aided or possibly conspired with Roeder, or who offered him some sort of assistance, or who lead him to believe he would have assistance in “getting away” with this, literally or figuratively. How that possibility played out is more important than labeling this terrorism, or getting however many years in prison.

It’s not like the defense had a lot of options, and from the lawyer’s point of view you might as well try whatever you can think of. (There’s no good defense. Take a shot at a bad one at least.)

I’m not trying to sound sympathetic, just guessing at what the thought process might be.