John Britton (doctor)
Encyclopedia
John Bayard Britton was an American physician. He was murdered
in Pensacola, Florida
by anti-abortion terrorist Paul Jennings Hill
. Britton's death was the second assassination of a Pensacola abortion provider in under a year and a half; he had replaced David Gunn
after the latter's 1993 murder by another anti-abortion terrorist.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Britton graduated in 1949 from the University of Virginia School of Medicine
, then served in the army in Korea and taught at the Medical College of Georgia
. He then became a family physician in Fernandina Beach, Florida
, spending much of his time delivering babies.
After Gunn's murder, Britton began flying across the state to Pensacola
weekly in order to perform abortions at the Pensacola Ladies' Center. Because he had received harassment and death threats, he wore a homemade bulletproof vest, carried a .357 Magnum
, and enlisted volunteer bodyguards
.
Britton was notably ambivalent about abortion: he was vocal about his personal opposition to the procedure, and would sometimes turn away women seeking it, telling them to think about the decision and come back in a week if they still wanted an abortion. However, he described anti-abortion protesters as "fanatics."
As Britton arrived at the clinic on July 29, 1994, Hill approached and fired on him with a twelve-gauge shotgun
, hitting him in the head and killing Britton, aged 69. Hill later stated that he aimed for Dr. Britton's head because he suspected the doctor was wearing a bulletproof vest. Hill also killed Britton's bodyguard, a retired Air Force lieutenant, James Barrett (aged 74), and wounded Barrett's wife, June, a retired nurse. The murder resulted in several members of Congress calling for the FBI to infiltrate anti-abortion groups, as it had with the Ku Klux Klan
.
A piece several months earlier in GQ
, by Tom Junod
, had profiled a number of parties involved in the murder: Dr. Britton, but also Hill and the Barretts. Britton and Hill are also interviewed in Tony Kaye
's documentary Lake of Fire
, which was released in 2006.
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...
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 terrorist Paul Jennings Hill
Paul Jennings Hill
Paul Jennings Hill was the first person in the United States to be executed for murdering a doctor who performed abortions.-Early life:...
. Britton's death was the second assassination of a Pensacola abortion provider in under a year and a half; he had replaced David Gunn
David Gunn (doctor)
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 murdered in...
after the latter's 1993 murder by another anti-abortion terrorist.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Britton graduated in 1949 from the University of Virginia School of Medicine
University of Virginia School of Medicine
The University of Virginia School of Medicine is a medical school located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. The tenth medical school to open in the United States, it has been part of the University of Virginia since the University's establishment in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson...
, then served in the army in Korea and taught at the Medical College of Georgia
Medical College of Georgia
Georgia Health Sciences University formerly known as, and now home of the, Medical College of Georgia , is a public academic health center, with its main campus located in the Medical District of Augusta, Georgia. It is the smallest of four research universities in the University System of Georgia...
. He then became a family physician in Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach is a city in Nassau County in the state of Florida in the United States of America and on Amelia Island. It is a part of Greater Jacksonville and is among Florida's northernmost cities. The area was first inhabited by the Timucuan Indian tribe...
, spending much of his time delivering babies.
After Gunn's murder, Britton began flying across the state to Pensacola
Pensacola
Pensacola is a city in the western part of the U.S. state of Florida.Pensacola may also refer to:* Pensacola people, a group of Native Americans* A number of places in the Florida:** Pensacola Bay** Pensacola Regional Airport...
weekly in order to perform abortions at the Pensacola Ladies' Center. Because he had received harassment and death threats, he wore a homemade bulletproof vest, carried a .357 Magnum
.357 Magnum
The .357 S&W Magnum , or simply .357 Magnum, is a revolver cartridge created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Colonel D. B. Wesson of firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson, and Winchester. It is based upon Smith & Wesson's earlier .38 Special cartridge. The .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced in...
, and enlisted volunteer bodyguards
Clinic escort
A clinic escort is a person who volunteers at an abortion clinic to help guide patients and staff into and out of the building. They serve to shield clients from pro-life demonstrators at the site. Escorts in the United States sometimes wear orange vests labelled "clinic escort".One clinic escort...
.
Britton was notably ambivalent about abortion: he was vocal about his personal opposition to the procedure, and would sometimes turn away women seeking it, telling them to think about the decision and come back in a week if they still wanted an abortion. However, he described anti-abortion protesters as "fanatics."
As Britton arrived at the clinic on July 29, 1994, Hill approached and fired on him with a twelve-gauge shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
, hitting him in the head and killing Britton, aged 69. Hill later stated that he aimed for Dr. Britton's head because he suspected the doctor was wearing a bulletproof vest. Hill also killed Britton's bodyguard, a retired Air Force lieutenant, James Barrett (aged 74), and wounded Barrett's wife, June, a retired nurse. The murder resulted in several members of Congress calling for the FBI to infiltrate anti-abortion groups, as it had with the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
.
A piece several months earlier in GQ
GQ (magazine)
GQ is a monthly men's magazine focusing on fashion, style, and culture for men, through articles on food, movies, fitness, sex, music, travel, sports, technology, and books...
, by Tom Junod
Tom Junod
Tom Junod is an American journalist. He is the recipient of two National Magazine Awards from the American Society of Magazine Editors.-Background and education:...
, had profiled a number of parties involved in the murder: Dr. Britton, but also Hill and the Barretts. Britton and Hill are also interviewed in Tony Kaye
Tony Kaye (director)
Tony Kaye is a director of films, music videos, advertisements and documentaries.Kaye has made several well-known music videos, including the video for "Runaway Train" by Soul Asylum, which won a Grammy Award; "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers; "What God Wants" by Roger Waters; and "Help...
's documentary Lake of Fire
Lake of Fire (film)
Lake of Fire is a 2006 documentary film that graphically depicts abortion in the United States. It features Noam Chomsky, Peter Singer, Alan Dershowitz, Nat Hentoff and Randall Terry....
, which was released in 2006.