Pistol incident bolsters activists

CHARLESTON - As David Bereit spoke about the abuse members of the 40 Days for Life movement have endured during years of prayer vigils at abortion clinics, a car alarm sounded for several minutes from the parking lot of the Charleston Women's Medical Center.

Bereit, national campaign director for 40 Days for Life, ignored the sound just as he did when, moments later, the driver of another car pulled out of the West Ashley clinic's parking lot and laid on the horn as it passed.

Bereit said opponents' attempts to silence their movement has had the opposite effect. No single action has done more to galvanize the organization, he said, than an Oct. 2 incident at the West Ashley clinic in which a Tennessee physician is accused of pointing a gun at three local members.

"As I've been traveling across the nation over these last couple of weeks, everywhere people are talking about what happened here," Bereit said Friday. "I have people telling me they are getting involved in the pro-life movement because what happened in Charleston, S.C., created a clear contrast between good and bad, between life and death, between choice and life."

Charleston police arrested Gary Boyle, 62, on charges of pointing a firearm after protesters said he brandished a handgun loaded with 15 rounds, according to a police report.

Boyle has a Tennessee permit to carry the pistol, according to the police report, a state that has a reciprocal agreement with South Carolina.

Boyle told officers that he showed the gun because he was afraid for his and his wife's life when three protesters approached the car, the report said.

Twice a year, members of 40 Days for Life stand vigil at abortion clinics across the country to protest abortion. The group says on its website that it has saved 417 babies through the first 31 days of the current protest.

Local leaders said they did not have a figure for the Charleston area.

Bereit said members pledge not to provoke or respond to opponents' threats and that the three members involved in the incident Oct. 2 upheld that pledge.

Bereit criticized the Charleston Women's Medical Center for not publicly condemning the incident.

A woman inside the center later declined comment.

Bereit acknowledged how divisive the issue is but said there is no room for violence.

"There's absolutely no room for hatred, there is no room for threats and there is certainly no room for violence in this debate," Bereit said. "And, regrettably, all three of those have reared their ugly heads right here in your city of Charleston."

Reach Andy Paras at 937-5589 or on twitter at twitter.com/andyparas.