David Gunn (doctor)
Encyclopedia
David Gunn was an American
physician
. He received his bachelors degree from Vanderbilt University
and earned his M.D.
at the University of Kentucky
. Gunn moved to Brewton, Alabama
, after his residency, choosing to provide OB/GYN and abortion services in rural America.
Gunn was murder
ed in Pensacola, Florida
by anti-abortion Christian
Michael F. Griffin
, described by the New York Times as: "A fundamentalist Christian and a loner with a bad temper." Griffin originally claimed to be acting "for God"; his attorneys would later assert on his behalf that he had been brainwashed
by another anti-abortion activist, John Burt.
From October 1998 through May 2009, Dr.Gunn was first of a total of four doctors murdered by killers proclaiming pro-life motivation. The others were doctors Barnett Slepian
, John Britton
and George Tiller
. Gunn's murder helped lead to the passage of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act
.
" by alternative metal band Marilyn Manson
. The lead singer, Marilyn Manson
, explained in a 1999 Rolling Stone
op-ed piece on the Columbine High School Massacre
, that to him, Gunn's murder by "pro-life" activists was the ultimate hypocrisy he had witnessed as a young adult.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. He received his bachelors degree from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
and earned his M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
at the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. Gunn moved to Brewton, Alabama
Brewton, Alabama
Brewton is a city in Escambia County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 5,498. The city is the county seat of Escambia County.-History:...
, after his residency, choosing to provide OB/GYN and abortion services in rural America.
Gunn was murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ed in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
by anti-abortion Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Michael F. Griffin
Michael F. Griffin
On March 10, 1993, Michael Frederick Griffin murdered Dr. David Gunn in Pensacola, Florida in the United States. This was the first documented assassination of an OB-GYN, to prevent a doctor from performing abortions....
, described by the New York Times as: "A fundamentalist Christian and a loner with a bad temper." Griffin originally claimed to be acting "for God"; his attorneys would later assert on his behalf that he had been brainwashed
Mind control
Mind control refers to a process in which a group or individual "systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator, often to the detriment of the person being manipulated"...
by another anti-abortion activist, John Burt.
From October 1998 through May 2009, Dr.Gunn was first of a total of four doctors murdered by killers proclaiming pro-life motivation. The others were doctors Barnett Slepian
Barnett Slepian
Barnett Slepian was an American physician and OB/GYN who was murdered in his home by anti-abortion militant James Charles Kopp....
, John Britton
John Britton
John Leslie Britton was an English mathematician from Yorkshire who worked in combinatorial group theory and was an expert on the word problem for groups. Britton was a member of the London Mathematical Society and was Secretary of Meetings and Membership with that organization from 1973-1976...
and George Tiller
George Tiller
George Richard Tiller, MD was an American physician from Wichita, Kansas. He was the medical director of a clinic in Wichita, Women's Health Care Services, one of only three nationwide which provided abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy .Pro-life group Operation Rescue kept a daily vigil...
. Gunn's murder helped lead to the passage of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act is a United States law that was signed by President Bill Clinton in May of 1994, which prohibits the following three things: the use of physical force, threat of physical force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, interfere...
.
In popular culture
In 1994, Gunn's violent death inspired the first official single "Get Your GunnGet Your Gunn
Released in 1994, "Get Your Gunn" is the first official single by alternative metal band Marilyn Manson. "Snake Eyes and Sissies" was originally planned as the lead single but never released; "Get Your Gunn" was released instead. The track was released to support the album Portrait of an American...
" by alternative metal band Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (band)
Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
. The lead singer, Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
, explained in a 1999 Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
op-ed piece on the Columbine High School Massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
, that to him, Gunn's murder by "pro-life" activists was the ultimate hypocrisy he had witnessed as a young adult.
See also
- Joe Scarborough
- Paul Jennings HillPaul Jennings HillPaul Jennings Hill was the first person in the United States to be executed for murdering a doctor who performed abortions.-Early life:...
- religious terrorismReligious terrorismReligious terrorism is terrorism by those whose motivations and aims have a predominant religious character or influence.In the modern age, after the decline of ideas such as the divine right of kings and with the rise of nationalism, terrorism more often involved anarchism, nihilism and...
- Christian terrorism