At one time Colorado Springs “was counted to be the national headquarters for 81 different religious organizations,” which would give me pause if I wanted to establish a Planned Parenthood clinic which provided abortion services in the city. Whoever runs that branch of the organization has a lot of courage.

The WaPo says it’s still unclear what Robert Lewis Dear’s motive was for entering that office today with a rifle and “other items” which might have been explosives, but it’s hard to believe it had nothing to do with the clinic and its work. It wouldn’t be the first time this year that Planned Parenthood clinics have been attacked.

Abortion rights groups say threats against abortion providers rose sharply this summer in the wake of an undercover “sting” mounted by an antiabortion group that filmed one of its videos at a clinic in Denver.

At least four Planned Parenthood clinics have been targeted with arson since the videos were released. The increase in threats has led abortion rights groups to increase cooperation with local police and the FBI.

Never mind that those videos were made to falsely accuse the organization of wrongdoing and that they were made and edited without the knowledge of the Planned Parenthood staff members.

I suspect that’s why none of the Republican Presidential candidates had as of an hour ago issued any statement of sympathy or support for the victims of the shooting. Here’s the thought process: “Nope. Don’t want to upset my base by saying anything which might show support for abortion providers.” If you’re Jeb Bush you probably add “Can’t be done. Wouldn’t be prudent.”

The Second Amendment is interpreted in such a way that guys like this can have guns, and the SCOTUS decision in Roe v. Wade has been interpreted down by states in such a way that it’s nearly open season on clinics which minister to women’s health needs including reproductive ones like abortions.

What a lovely country this has become in my lifetime.