The NBC affiliate in Grand Chute, WI reports that an "explosive device" was set off outside the Planned Parenthood on North Gillett Street on Sunday night. No one was injured, and the building sustained minor damage.
Police are gathering information about the incident, so of course we don't want to jump to conclusions and assume that the bomb was placed there by someone who considers himself "pro-life" and thinks that by bombing a health care clinic, he's saving lives and doing just as God, Jesus and the Republican Party want him to do. We certainly don't want to assume that whoever planted the bomb might have been inspired by the recent debates in Wisconsin about women's health care, including a bill to ban "abortion coverage under a private health insurance exchange set up under the Affordable Care Act."
Let's not lay blame at the feet of the "pro-life" advocates and organizations who run around screaming about murder and unborn children and every sperm is sacred; who place bounties on the heads of doctors; who just last week were debating in the House whether doctors should be imprisoned for performing abortions on minors not accompanied by their parents, even in cases of rape or incest.
Let's not rush to judgment just because every single time a women's health clinic is attacked, it's always someone who considers himself "pro-life" and is just so gosh-darned upset that women are going in and out of this clinic to get health care as if they're doing something perfectly acceptable and legal—which they are—and so the "pro-life" terrorist feels he simply must do something to stop those women and their doctors and obviously trying to destroy the clinic with some homemade "device" is the best way for them to achieve their goal. Like in January, when Bobby Joe Rogers set fire to an abortion clinic in Florida because, he said, "he was pushed to action after he saw a young woman enter the clinic for an abortion while he was standing outside the clinic with a group of protesters recently."
Remember, until we know more, this is just an isolated incident by a lone lunatic and has nothing whatsoever to do with the War on Women and their health care.
8:56 AM PT: Via TPM, the full statement from Teri Huyck, Planned Parenthood Wisconsin president:
“For 77 years, the dedicated staff at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin have worked to ensure that women and families will always be able to access affordable, high-quality health care in a safe and caring environment in which their privacy and dignity is respected.
“We care for 80,000 patients statewide who turn to us for medical exams, lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control and STD testing and treatment. Over 97 percent of the health care services we provide are critical, preventive care such as this. At three of our 27 centers, we provide abortion care, a critical component of comprehensive women’s health care.
“Last night around 7:40 p.m. the Grand Chute Fire Department was called to our Appleton North Health Center. Police are telling us that a small, homemade explosive device was placed on an outside windowsill causing a small fire that burned out prior to the fire department arriving. There was minimal damage to one of the exam rooms. No staff or patients were injured or present. The health center will reopen tomorrow. Our primary concern today—as always--- is our patients, staff and volunteers.
“Women deserve safe and compassionate care, and we are proud to provide it. Rest assured, our doors will remain open for the thousands of women who rely on Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin each year for high quality health care.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the law enforcement agencies working with us to ensure Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin continues to be a safe and trusted health care provider for Wisconsin women and families.”