Dr. David Gunn, a 47-year-old white male physician, was tragically murdered on March 10, 1993, in Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Gunn, who specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, was known for providing abortion services in rural areas of Florida and Alabama. On the day of his death, he was shot three times in the back by Michael Frederick Griffin, an anti-abortion extremist, as he arrived at the Pensacola Women's Medical Services clinic. Griffin, a 31-year-old white male at the time, ambushed Dr.
Gunn in the clinic's parking lot, shouting "Don't kill any more babies" before opening fire.
The murder of Dr. Gunn was a significant event as it marked the first documented killing of a physician in the United States specifically targeted for providing abortion services. Griffin did not deny his actions and immediately surrendered to a nearby police officer, stating, "We need an ambulance." During his trial, Griffin's defense argued that he had been brainwashed by John Burt, a prominent anti-abortion activist and former Ku Klux Klan member, who was known for his extremist views and violent rhetoric.
Griffin was found guilty of first-degree murder on March 4, 1994, after a jury deliberated for three hours. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 25 years, which he is currently serving at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility in Milton, Florida. The Florida Commission on Offender Review set Griffin's tentative release date for March 4, 2043, although he can seek a review of his release date in 2024.
The murder of Dr. Gunn had far-reaching implications, leading to increased security measures at abortion clinics and the passage of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act in 1994. This law aimed to protect the rights of patients and healthcare providers by imposing penalties on those who use force, threats, or physical obstruction to interfere with access to reproductive health services. Dr. Gunn's death also highlighted the growing violence within the anti-abortion movement during the early 1990s, which included death threats, vandalism, and arson at clinics across the country.
In the aftermath of Dr. Gunn's murder, other anti-abortion extremists continued to commit acts of violence. Notably, Paul Hill, who publicly justified Dr. Gunn's murder as a "justifiable homicide," went on to kill Dr. John Britton and his bodyguard, James Barrett, in Pensacola in 1994. Hill was sentenced to death for his crimes and was executed in 2003. These incidents underscored the ongoing threat posed by extremist elements within the anti-abortion movement and the need for continued vigilance and legal protections for healthcare providers and their patients.
