Mayor Rick Kriseman toured the St. Pete Planned Parenthood Monday following the deadly shooting at another location in Colorado Springs Friday that claimed the lives of three people including one police officer.
“I appreciate the work done by Planned Parenthood in our community and thought it was important to show my support for the staff there during this difficult time,” Kriseman said. “They are determined to not let the tragedy in Colorado get in the way of providing important and affordable healthcare to our residents. I’m proud to stand with Planned Parenthood.”
Kriseman’s show of support for the women’s healthcare provider is not surprising. He’s issued pro-life and pro-women sentiment before and had continued to reject pleas from some members of the community to fly a “pro-life” flag in conjunction with an annual anti-abortion event.
But the tragic shooting that also injured nine other victims has drawn people on both sides of the abortion debate together with high profile conservatives condemning the act as domestic terrorism.
Kriseman visited the local Planned Parenthood the same day the accused shooter, Robert Lewis Dear, appeared in court via a live feed from the jail where he was being housed. Dear’s next court appearance is December 9.
While Dear has not been officially charged, he’s being held on suspicion of First Degree Murder and, as such, could face a minimum of a life sentence or, at a maximum, death.
Dear is said to have mentioned baby body parts following the shooting playing on the controversial and highly edited video showing Planned Parenthood was selling fetal remains. Numerous media outlets, particularly ones friendly to liberal ideals, have debunked the video’s merit.
Conservatives, however, still stand by its validity.
While Planned Parenthood does provide limited abortion procedures, they also offer a host of other women’s healthcare services including mammograms, birth control and STD testing. Some services, like STD testing, are also available to men.
