There are a lot of people out there who don’t agree with my personal beliefs (I’m looking at you, conservative Republicans), and I admit I sometimes wish they’d get questioned by Anderson Cooper or be the subject of a hilarious skit on SNL.
But, along with the vast majority of people, I understand that sending a letter threatening to stalk and blow your opponent to smithereens is a no-no. Not only will it get you slapped with a big old lawsuit, but it is also one of the most effective ways to ensure public outrage. And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not have my name wedged between “divinely inspired” and “car bomb” if and when any future employers Google stalk me.
Well, it’s already too late for virulent pro-lifer Angel Dillard, who sent a rabid (and terrifying) letter to Dr. Mila Means in Wichita, Kansas last year. Part of the letter reads:
“They will know your habits and routines. They know where you shop, who your friends are, what you drive, where you live. You will be checking under your car everyday — because maybe today is the day someone places an explosive under it.”
And if that gem wasn’t crazy enough for you, Dillard now says she was “divinely inspired” to threaten to plant a bomb under Dr. Means’ car, according to My San Antonio. Because everyone knows that Jesus used to blow up dinosaurmobiles back in the day.
My San Antonio reports that a lawsuit was filed against Dillard to prevent her from taking any further nasty, and potentially bloody, instructions from God. But before using religion to excuse her hate-filled letter, the pro-lifer told the court that her words weren’t meant to be taken as a “true threat.” Huh?
In a truly sickening turn of events, the anti-choice activist has a countersuit in place (I can’t believe I just typed that), which claims that the U.S. Justice Department’s original charge “violates her freedom of speech and religion.”
Okay then, except Wichita’s last abortion doctor, George Tiller, was killed by an anti-choice activist while attending church services three years ago, and Dillard befriended his murderer.
With the war against women’s right to choose in full force, I commend Dr. Means for standing strong. But I can’t help but fear for her, too.
(Image via The Pitch News)
