Anti-abortion activist who shot Kansas abortion doctor freed

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Updated 5:13 am CST, Thursday, November 8, 2018



Photo: Ben Brink, AP
FILE - In this Sept. 8, 1995 file photo, Rachelle "Shelley" Shannon arrives for sentencing in federal court in downtown Portland, Ore. Shannon, an anti-abortion activist who shot Wichita, Kan., abortion doctor George Tiller in 1993 and committed clinic attacks in several states, has been released from imprisonment in Oregon. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons confirmed Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, that Shannon has been released. The Kansas City Star reports Shannon was staying at a halfway house in Portland since May. She has been in custody for 25 years. (Ben Brink /The Oregonian via AP, File)


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A woman who shot Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller and attacked abortion clinics in several states in the 1990s has been released from prison in Oregon, prompting concern in clinics across the country, according to a published report Wednesday.

Rachelle "Shelley" Shannon was released from a halfway house in Portland, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons confirmed. She will be on supervised release for three years but the bureau said conditions of her release will not be revealed.

Shannon spent 25 years in custody and had been living at the halfway house since May, The Kansas City Star reported.

"We're extremely concerned," said Katherine Spillar, executive director of the Feminist Majority Foundation. "We're alerting providers, briefing them and making sure they have enough security precautions in place."

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Anti-abortion-activist-who-shot-Kansas-abortion-13372559.php

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(from 1993)

[cp]

1. How is she not in prison for life?

[SunSeeker]

2. WTF?

[hlthe2b]

3. She didn't JUST shoot Tiller--She KILLED him. That's an irresponsible headline, IMO

And, she should have been sentenced for life. I guess our only hope is if she tries something again, the police response will include a better shot.

I hate saying that because I am not one who believes in either death penalty or violent fatal response unless necessary, but, she is apparently "totally non-rehabilitated".

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. She didn't kill Tiller.

He was shot on a previous occasion.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Tiller#Violence_directed_at_Tiller

Violence directed at Tiller Edit

Throughout his career, Tiller was a frequent target of anti-abortion violence. In June 1986, his clinic was firebombed. While it was being rebuilt, Tiller displayed a sign reading "Hell no, we won't go".[22] On August 19, 1993, anti-abortion extremist[23][24][25] Shelley Shannon shot Tiller five times, while he was in his car.[26][27][28] At the time she attacked Tiller, Shannon had been an anti-abortion activist for five years and had written letters of support to the convicted murderer Michael Griffin, who had murdered Dr. David Gunn. She called him "a hero".[29] At her trial in state court, Shannon testified that there was nothing wrong with trying to kill Tiller. The jury convicted Shannon of attempted murder, and she was sentenced to 11 years in prison.[30][31] The following year, however, Shannon was sentenced to an additional 20 years in prison on charges of arson, interference with commerce by force and interstate travel in aid of racketeering in connection to her participation in several fires and acid attacks on abortion clinics.[32][33][34]

[hlthe2b]

6. I'd forgotten about Scott Roeder. Still, it remains likely she collaborated with him, just as

Manson was guilty for the eventual murders by his followers.

[BamaRefugee]

7. Thankfully, she is being released into society at a time when there is peace and tranquility

There won't be anything to get her riled up and heading to Cabelas for a shootin' iron.

[Solly Mack]

8. K&R

I hope her photo is posted at clinics so people can be on the lookout for her.

[BlueInRedHell]

13. Along with photo-shopped versions with varying hair colors/styles. They really shouldn't leave r/o

anything to chance.

[Solly Mack]

16. I agree. Leave nothing to chance. She's dangerous.

[old guy]

9. At the very least,

she should be treated the same as a sex offender and have to register with authorities where she intends to live so her whereabouts are known to all.

[drmeow]

15. I like this idea! n/t

[marble falls]

10. Twenty-five years is about enough. She looks pretty worn down by it in her latest photos.

[KWR65]

12. Don't let that fool you. She will die for the cause of anti-abortion.

Last edited Thu Nov 8, 2018, 08:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Mark my words she will attack again.

[KWR65]

11. There was a Court TV Documentary about her.

She will start attacking clinics and doctors again. She is a christian fundamentalist with an Taliban ideology.

[workinclasszero]

14. White right wing terrorist released to menace the public again

In the name of her god (Trump) no doubt!

[keithbvadu2]

17. Pro-life is a myth.

Pro-life is a myth.

The supposed pro-lifers cared not when the state of Texas (republican gov, republican Prez) deliberately killed living baby Sun Hudson against the mother's wishes because he was an inconvenience to the state.

It is not a matter of life to the supposed pro-lifers.

It is a matter of control.

[47of74]

18. I've always said "right to life" was little more than a four flushing shell game.

One the Republicans trotted out every few years when they needed votes.