At approximately 7:15 a.m. on November 8, two shots rang out in a quiet neighbourhood of Vancouver, B.C. Inside his home Gary Romalis, gynaecologist and abortionist, bleeding profusely, called the police.
Reports would late indicate a lone sniper, using a high powered rifle had targeted the abortionist in an attempted murder. Romalis was left with a shattered femur and a severed femoral artery.
There were no witnesses and no gun was found. Down the lane, 20 rounds of ammunition were located in a garbage can and police determined that the assailant had used an AK-47.
Upon hearing the news, John Hof of Campaign Life Coalition B.C. immediately issued a press release indicating that while police have yet to report whether the incident has anything to do with abortion, all forms of violence are reprehensible and Campaign Life Coalition and the entire pro-life movement will continue to work for the consistently stated aim of promoting respect for each and every human being.
Ted Gerk, head of B.C. Pro-Life Society, echoed these sentiments stating: “The pro-life movement is a peaceful, non-violent movement dedicated to the protection of all human life.”
While Romalis underwent surgery, pro-abortion forces seized the opportunity to turn up the rhetoric and take political advantage of the tragedy.
By noon it was obvious which slant the Vancouver media was taking- fingers wee strategically pointed at pro-lifers – although police indicated they were still investigating all possible motives.
Across Canada the battle began to sizzle as both sides realized the repercussions from the event – the first time an abortionist has been shot in Canada.
Throughout the afternoon the accusations become more incredible as the news spread. By evening the entire episode has taken on an ominous tone.
The BCTV news hour reported on other incidents within the abortion battle, citing the fire bombing of Morgentaler’s Toronto clinic activists against pro-lifers. BCTV has extensive file footage of these incidents but chose not to use them.
With the aid of the media, the pro-abortionists continued their accusations. Kim Zander, a spokeswoman for the Everywoman’s Health Center, said: “It’s not a surprise that what has happened in the United States would happen here. The anti-choice movement in the United States and Canada have very strong links.” She called Attorney General Colin Gabelmann to investigate those ties, while blaming police for their slow response to anti-abortion protests outside clinics.
Gabelmann rejected the idea of more injunctions. “If I can be persuaded that an injunction is going to prevent a nut from using a gun, then I would be inclined to ask our people to do that. I have yet to be persuaded that injunctions are any protection at all against crazy people,” he told reporters.
Joy Thompson of the BC Coalition for Abortion Clinics was even more vocal causing Ted Gerk to mote that her comments “disturb us.”
“The suggestion that peaceful picketing somehow has a relation to this shooting is ludicrous,” Gerk noted. “Comments by members of the pro-abortion movement are once again fanning the flames…trying to score political points in the face of a tragedy…a tragedy in which little is known for sure regarding the circumstances…smacks of political opportunism.”
Henry Morgentaler, Canada’s leading abortionist, had the audacity to accuse the Pope and fundamentalist Muslim leaders of inciting hatred and violence by their suggestions that those who perform abortions are guilty of murder.
It was now apparent the shooting was being blamed throughout the media on the pro-life movement. A Birthright office received a very serious threat issued to all members of the pro-life movement promising revenge over the tragic shooting. Individuals within the movement were also receiving calls.
As both sides talked of fear it became evident this event had changed the face of the abortion battle in Canada.
On November 9, Dr. Romalis was still unconscious. Police were still investigating all leads and had called on the FBI to assist them.
John Dixon, spokesman for the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, indicated the attack will be “a very serious blow to the credibility of all pro-life activists in our society. The shooting is a terrible crime that is going to disgrace, whether unfairly or fairly, every pro-life activist in our country.”
Following the escalating threats and rising fear, Ted Gerk issued another news release imploring Joy Thompson and the BC Coalition for Abortion Clinics to issue a statement publicly condemning harassment or violence used by supporters in their own movement directed upon pro-lifers.
“We also demand that they issue a statement to the supporters of their movement to let the police and the justice system in the province of British Columbia do their jobs. The inflamed rhetoric being used by Joy and the pro-abortion movement is inciting their supporters and could result in another tragedy.”
On the other side of the fence, when Vancouver Archbishop Adam Exner was asked if he could refrain from using the term murder when referring to abortion, he indicated he could not, noting that abortion is murder in the eyes of God.
