LETTER: Lyons on Loiter Law

To the Editor,

A heated debate has been sparked by Jim Lyons' support for eliminating the
buffer zone around reproductive health clinics where it is illegal to
protest or loiter. Earlier this month, the Eagle Tribune published a letter
defending Jim Lyons' bill and advocating for elimination the buffer zone -
specifically stating the writer has "never seen or heard of pro-lifer
attacks." We are all entitled to our own point of view, but not our own
facts. The statement quoted above "does not stand the test of time and
evidence" which we are asked to apply. Let's review:

In 1993 Dr. David Gunn was murdered outside a Pensacola clinic. That same
year, Dr. George Tiller was shot multiple times outside a Kansas clinic. In
1996, Dr. Calvin Jackson was assaulted and savagely stabbed outside a
clinic.

In 1994 Massachusetts experienced one of the worst attacks when John Salvi
opened fire on two clinics in Brookline, killing two young ladies and
wounding many others. Following the savagery in Brookline, Salvi was
arrested in Virginia after attacking a third Planned Parenthood Clinic.

All of us, pro-choice, pro-life alike, should want to see patients and
employees of medical facilities kept safe. Defending Rep. Jim Lyons by
denying past instances of violence, is not the best way to support pro-life
principles. A vote for Jim Lyons is a vote to condone and encourage
harassment of women seeking to obtain routine women's health care and
counseling.

Chas Bicking

River Road

Andover