[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         IN MEMORIAL: DR. JOHN B. BRITTON AND JAMES H. BARRETT

                                 ______


                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 2, 1994

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, how long will the violence continue in front 
of women's health clinics? How long will we tolerate pure terrorism in 
the streets of America?
  Last year in my hometown of San Diego, clinics were attacked with 
butyric acid--a dangerous toxic substance. In Florida, Dr. David Gunn 
was shot and killed for performing legal medical procedures. Across the 
Nation, clinics have been attacked, doctors and nurses have been 
attacked, and patients have been attacked. And now this latest tragedy 
in Florida, where Dr. John Britton and his escort, James Barrett, were 
murdered while Britton's injured wife, June, lay nearby.
  When will the violence stop? Whether you call yourself pro-choice or 
pro-life--it doesn't matter. We must all be antiviolence. We must all 
be antiterrorism. We must all be antichaos. In a Nation such as ours, 
based on the rule of law, no one can place themselves above the law and 
commit acts of murder.
  Last year, we were told that the FBI would look into these senseless 
acts. But talk is cheap and the violence continues. We must demand that 
the FBI do whatever is necessary to stop the continuing acts of 
terrorism taking place in front of clinics across this Nation. Sending 
out the U.S. Marshalls is a welcome step, but the only permanent 
solution is to prosecute and arrest those who advocate the use of 
violence against doctors. Let us not wait for another doctor to be 
slain. Those who incite this violence and those who commit this 
violence must finally be dealt with.
  Nothing we do can bring back Dr. Gunn, or Dr. Britton, or Mr. 
Barrett. But they gave their lives to protect a woman's right to 
choose. Now we have to honor that commitment with determined action. 
For their sake, we must replace violence with justice, fear with 
confidence, and terrorism with freedom. Thank you.

                          ____________________