Posted on 07/18/2005 9:15:29 AM PDT by Rodney King
A nurse critically injured when Eric Rudolph detonated a bomb outside an abortion clinic described him Monday as "a monster" who should be put to death. "The full responsibility for this would have been the death sentence," said Emily Lyons.
She spoke at a sentencing hearing for Rudolph, who avoided a death penalty under a plea agreement in which he confessed to deadly bombings in Birmingham and Atlanta.
"When it was your turn to face death, you weren't so brave again," Lyons told the federal courtroom
"You want to see a monster, all you have to do is look in the mirror," she said.
Rudolph, an anti-abortion extremist who remained defiant when he admitted setting the deadly explosions, has discussed his reasons only in written statements. Defense attorney Judy Clarke said he would speak at the sentencing hearing.
"It really doesn't matter what you say because I will go back to my home and you will go back to jail. The clinics in town will still be open and abortion will still be legal," Lyons said.
Rudolph, 38, pleaded guilty in April to setting off a remote-controlled bomb that maimed Lyons and killed police officer Robert "Sande" Sanderson outside the New Woman All Women clinic on the morning of Jan. 29, 1998.
He also faces sentencing Aug. 22 in Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics bombing that killed one woman and injured more than 100, as well as 1997 bombings at an abortion clinic and gay bar in Atlanta.
Under the plea agreement, he will be sentenced to four life terms without parole for the Birmingham and Atlanta bombings. But victims in both cities were getting the chance to speak about the harm he had caused.
As the hearing began, U.S. District Judge Lynwood Smith ruled that any proceeds Rudolph might receive from books or other projects must go to pay restitution to his victims.
In a statement distributed after his guilty pleas, Rudolph portrayed himself as a devout Christian and said the bombings were motivated by his hatred of abortion and a federal government that lets it continue.
"The fact that I have entered an agreement with the government is purely a tactical choice on my part and in no way legitimates the moral authority of the government to judge this matter or to impute guilt," Rudolph said.
Lyons was wounded by flying nails and other pieces of shrapnel in the bombing. She has undergone 21 operations, lost her left eye and has visible scars on her arms and legs. She is no longer physically able to work.
Under the plea agreement, Rudolph disclosed hidden explosives in the mountains of western North Carolina, where he was captured in May 2003 after more than five years as a fugitive.
Rudolph Victim Says He Deserves Death
Alternate headline:
Killer says other killer should be killed
While I know that what Rudolph did is wrong, I can find no sympathy for this paid killer of human babies in the womb. Perhaps she has a piece of shrapnel in her for every baby whose death she assisted.
"Emily is obviously a product of the public schools. Why "would have been"?"
Actually, this sounds like the subjunctive mood or a conditional phrase, sort of like "I wish I were a pro athlete." Many people say "I wish I was a pro athlete," which is incorrect.
It appears to me that Emily's grammar is correct -- or at least acceptable -- here. She thinks the proper sentence for him is death, but that's not what he got.
In order to properly qualify as an extremist, one must be several deviations from the norm.
As if what she is supporting in the abortion clinic isn't reprehensible.
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Correct. However, murdering abortionists and those who work in abortion clinics does not right a wrong.
I think a lot of pro-life folks despise Eric Rudolph because he's placed the moral dilemma of our position squarely in front of us -- and we don't like the logical implications of it.
Nor does it justify bombing the Olympics or bombing the bar.
"Nor does it justify bombing the Olympics or bombing the bar."
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I forgot about those too. Thanks for the reminder.
This guy is not the hero some think he is...in my opinion.
Excellent post. Rudolph is a murderer and deserves a murderer's fate. But so does the putrid Ms Lyons. She is as evil as he.
atnotlazy wrote:
"Nor does it justify bombing the Olympics or bombing the bar."
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I forgot about those too. Thanks for the reminder.
This guy is not the hero some think he is...in my opinion.
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