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Special to AIPNews.com October 9, 2009
Tom W. Shaw
I have a confession to make. Simply, I have been unworried, untroubled and unconcerned. I was unwilling to take the time to study the subject of life and unenthusiastic about preserving it. Abortion didn’t affect me, so, why should I invest any thought into the debate? Although I did not believe in abortion, I was disposed to allowing the mother to make her own decision … she would have to live with it. In short, it was none of my business. A few years back, during the process of a sexual assault investigation, I was sent to get evidence at a Planned Parenthood clinic. The alleged victim in the case decided to have an abortion and I was to pick up the aborted fetus and take it to the crime lab for DNA analysis. And to the clinic I went, totally unprepared for what I was to encounter. I told an employee that I was there to retrieve a fetus. I was immediately told that it was not a fetus, rather, it was a “product of conception.” Moments later, I was handed a small, plastic bag. (Another confession: My stomach turned violently and I almost vomited.) I did not see a “product of conception” in that bag, I saw a murdered baby. It’s hard to relate the emotional turmoil that I subsequently went through. I can, and frequently do, deal with dead bodies. But I was totally repulsed by the fact that riding next to me in my patrol car, in a cooler, packed in ice, was an innocent victim who was robbed of the opportunity to live its life. It is my business. No longer will I allow those who support abortion to dehumanize a baby by calling it a “product of conception.” It is my business. No longer will I fail to uphold my duty to protect all innocent life. It is my business. No longer will I violate my oath by not defending the God given right to life. It is my business. No longer shall I be complacent. |
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Powerful. Also posted HERE .
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Great post Tom. Confession is good for the soul. I think many of us, particularly us men, were of the same or similar mindset when we were ignorant on the subject. [I call the 'It's none of my business" a Ross Perot position] I confess I held the Rape & Incest exception before taking the time to simply apply logic, common sense and Christian principles to the issue. One critique my friend: Not everyone knows you are a Police Chief and that can cause some needless thought diversion and diminish the overall impact of your otherwise well written post. I'd suggest inserting "as police chief" when re-posting elsewhere. Maybe like this: "A few years back, as police chief during the process of a sexual assault investigation, I was sent to get evidence at a Planned Parenthood clinic." |
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| Posted 2009-10-09 11:52 AM (#25202 - in reply to #25189) By: Geronimo
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Tom, this hits everyone right between the eyes;" if" they can see and hear.
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| Posted 2009-10-09 12:19 PM (#25204 - in reply to #25202) By: marchingon
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| Posted 2009-10-09 5:56 PM (#25220 - in reply to #25204) By: Philomena
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Geronimo - 2009-10-09 11:52 AM
Great post Tom. Confession is good for the soul. I think many of us, particularly us men, were of the same or similar mindset when we were ignorant on the subject. [I call the 'It's none of my business" a Ross Perot position] I confess I held the Rape & Incest exception before taking the time to simply apply logic, common sense and Christian principles to the issue. One critique my friend: Not everyone knows you are a Police Chief and that can cause some needless thought diversion and diminish the overall impact of your otherwise well written post. I'd suggest inserting "as police chief" when re-posting elsewhere. Maybe like this: "A few years back, as police chief during the process of a sexual assault investigation, I was sent to get evidence at a Planned Parenthood clinic."
Thanks for the critique Geronimo. I think I got caught up in my emotions and was writing to myself rather than to the readers. My wife and I talked about this incident last night. She told me I was on edge for several days after this happened. I still get a vivid picture in my mind every time the topic of life is brought up. |
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| Posted 2009-10-10 6:14 AM (#25250 - in reply to #25202) By: electshaw2010
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Tom:
This is a great post. It's funny that you said that you wrote the piece for yourself rather than for any readers. I've been writing a lot about Personhood myself lately, and I find that it helps me get my thoughts and my arguments straight in my own mind. |
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| Posted 2009-10-13 7:28 AM (#25440 - in reply to #25250) By: danielh41
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Tom Shaw, I wish I lived in your district so that I could vote for you! I hope you don't mind if I publish your article far and wide. I think it will generate a lot of comment. God bless you, Tom!
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| Posted 2009-10-13 10:37 AM (#25448 - in reply to #25440) By: MaryAnnH
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MaryAnnH - 2009-10-13 10:37 AM
Tom Shaw, I wish I lived in your district so that I could vote for you! I hope you don't mind if I publish your article far and wide. I think it will generate a lot of comment. God bless you, Tom!
Please, feel free to publish. |
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| Posted 2009-10-13 12:57 PM (#25454 - in reply to #25448) By: electshaw2010
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I am publishing as we speak...sort of, lol. Have had some insomnia troubles this week, so I figured I would work on getting the word out to all the conservative networks. I started with my own blog: Conservative Chick.
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| Posted 2009-10-15 12:20 AM (#25581 - in reply to #25454) By: MaryAnnH
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Tom, this is very moving and eye opening. I am honored to know you and support you. The world need many more like you. |
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| Posted 2009-10-15 7:08 PM (#25663 - in reply to #25189) By: Norma
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