Blogs

Planned Parenthood and vigilante justice

Planned Parenthood and vigilante justice

Zack Pruitt

Following an attack on a Planned Parenthood office in Colorado, authorities are still investigating a motive for a shooting that left a police officer and two others dead. Whatever the motive, the attack should and will be uniformly condemned by the pro-life community. While we would do virtually anything to protect the most innocent among us from murder at the hands of Planned Parenthood medical staff, that does not include attempts at vigilante justice or homicide.

Despite the work of Planned Parenthood in killing more than 300,000 babies each year, the proper response from the pro-life community is continued education of the public by exposing the brutality of the procedure known as abortion. Forceful attacks on abortion providers and clinics do not further a cause based on protecting innocent life. Pro-lifers must be unrelenting in our efforts to protect the lives of children, but we must do so lawfully and in a manner that is worthy of the cause we are supporting. Combating violence with violence in a domestic setting will never accomplish the goal of protecting the sanctity of life.

Whence the virtue needed for American constitutionalism: Reason, faith, or commercial self-interest?
Blogs

Whence the virtue needed for American constitutionalism: Reason, faith, or commercial self-interest?

Adam J. MacLeod

I am glad that Rob called attention to the recent debate between John McGinnis and Robert George regarding John Adams' famous proposition that our Constitution is designed for a moral and religious people and wholly inadequate for the governance of any other. Helpfully, both professors have published written versions of their respective contributions to the debate, George at Public Discourse and McGinnis in three parts at the Library of Law & Liberty (one, two, and three). These are two towering intellects, both men of good faith and unusual ability who share an appetite for acquiring knowledge and an obvious, mutual respect.

The timing of this debate is likely not an accident. Alarm at the lack of civic virtue in America, particularly among young adults, is running high at present. Underlying this concern is a consensus that virtue is important. At the very least, constitutionalism cannot function without pervasive lawfulness.

Read More