Thank you, @Polimath, for tweeting the story. To no one’s surprise, it’s not gaining traction.
Someone shot an 84-year-old woman (cops say she’s 83, the pro-life org says 84) in the back as she handed out pro-life pamphlets:
According to Anna Visser, the Director of Communications and Education with Right to Life Of Michigan, the volunteer is in good spirits after being shot in the back shoulder, and wants to remain anonymous while the criminal investigation continues.”Obviously, no one should be threatened like this or shot at or potentially killed for exercising their freedom of speech,” said Visser.The volunteer was going door-to-door on Bippley Road in Lake Odessa passing out materials about Proposal 3, which is the abortion ballot initiative and was encouraging people to vote ‘No.’
Visser explained: “One of the ladies that lived at the house got upset and started screaming at her. This volunteer walked away, was walking back to her car, and a man from the house came out and shot her in the back.”
The volunteer drove herself to the police station. She was then taken to the hospital, where doctors treated and released her.
The dispatcher said: “Lady on her property that won’t leave. No idea who she is. She drove on her grass. Wants her to sign some type of petition. Now it sounds like the caller’s husband shot at her and nicked her with a bullet and she’s bleeding. We’ll be starting medical.”
Visser disputed the dispatcher’s story because the volunteer did not have a gun or threatened anyone.
“No one should be shot at for just sharing what they believe in and just trying to educate the community,” said Visser. “Luckily this won’t deter us from continuing to educate people on Proposal 3 and why it’s so dangerous. We’ll continue to have our volunteers go out safely and peacefully.”
The man who shot the volunteer claimed it was an accident:
The man who fired the shot that struck an anti-abortion rights canvasser in the shoulder last week called it an accident but also said the volunteer had been arguing with his wife, who supports abortion rights, and refused to leave their property.“I came out and she (the volunteer) is screaming and having a great old time, and being told, I’m sure I heard at least a dozen times, ‘You’re trespassing, get off the property,’” 74-year-old Richard Harvey, wearing a “Facts Matter” baseball cap, told News 8 on Tuesday.
The volunteer argued with his wife, Sharon Harvey, over abortion rights.
Sharon dropped contradicting evidence, admitting the volunteer “finally did step off her porch.”
But Harvey heard the argument from the barn.
Harvey grabbed a gun and aimed it at the pine tree: “She (the volunteer) is still ranting and raving and she’s got this clipboard. She’s waving it around. I’m thinking she’s going to smack Sharon with it. So without thinking, I went to club it away with the rifle and my finger was still in the trigger guard. It went off and hit her about in here [right shoulder].”
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY