[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S584-S585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ABORTION AND VIOLENCE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, prior to coming to this body I was an 
attorney, practiced law, I have great respect for the law. I tried 
dozens and dozens of cases before juries. I did not always agree with 
the result of the verdicts that the jury came to, but I always 
respected what they did, their obligation to do what they felt was 
right. The U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts--I do not always agree 
with their decisions, but I respect the United States being a body that 
follows the law. We respect the law. We follow the law.

  Mr. President, on the 24th anniversary of the Roe versus Wade 
decision, I feel it is appropriate that I come and offer a few words 
today about what is taking place in our country. My record --as you 
know, is that I am personally opposed to abortion. But, Mr. President, 
I am also opposed to what is going on in this country today where 
certain people feel that they are above the law, that the law is 
something that they can interpret on their own.
  There is no justification for what is taking place in America today 
where violence is almost a way of life in some areas. Today on the news 
it had appeared that a bomb went off near an abortion clinic here in 
Washington, DC. It is not clear whether the bomb was meant to destroy 
the clinic, but all over the country there are abortion clinics that 
are being bombed. I think that is abhorrent and wrong.
  Mr. President, if someone respects life, you cannot choose which life 
you respect. You cannot only respect the lives of those who agree with 
you politically or those who agree with certain decisions surrendered 
by the Supreme Court.
  I am adamantly opposed to the use of violence to show one's 
displeasure with the law. I was the first Member of this body to come 
to the floor and denounce the killing of Dr. David Gunn in Florida. I 
am compelled to come to the floor again today, given the most recent 
bombings of abortion clinics.
  It is incumbent upon the leaders of this country to condemn these 
shameful acts. It is incumbent upon the religious leaders that they 
condemn these shameful tactics. Yet we need more than people saying, 
well, I disagree with violence. We need people speaking out against 
this violence. We need people denouncing these acts. Through their 
silence, I believe there is an acquiescence to this violence.
  The people who perpetrate these bombings are wrong. They are a fringe 
element. They are extremists who advocate violence as an alternative to 
meaningful debate and discussion. They believe, I assume, Mr. 
President, that they are above the law.
  Let us continue to have passionate and vigorous debate on this 
subject and all other subjects, but do not take the law into our own 
hands. I repeat, those who respect life cannot choose which lives they 
respect. You cannot only respect the lives of those who agree with us.
  Religion teaches us tolerance. This does not mean tolerance for only 
those people who agree with us. It means tolerance for all. If your 
message is to protect life, then you do not put other lives in jeopardy 
by your acts.
  We have been told in Holy Scripture, Mr. President, as you have heard 
it

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said, that it is no longer appropriate that we have an eye for an eye 
and a tooth for a tooth. In fact, we have been told to turn the other 
cheek when we are struck. We have been told to love your enemies, bless 
those who curse you, do good to those who hate you.
  I do not know how people have been lost in this debate, Mr. 
President, how they feel that they can come and bomb places of 
business, hurting innocent people.
  So I say, we must stop this violence. And the very first way of 
stopping the violence is to speak out against it. We must all speak out 
against these horrendous acts that are taking place in our country.
  I express my appreciation to the Senator from North Dakota for 
allowing me to speak out of order.
  Mr. DORGAN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
and ask unanimous consent that following my presentation the Senator 
from Florida, Senator Graham, be yielded 10 minutes from my time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Dorgan pertaining to the introduction of S. 181 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')

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