Anti-abortion campaigner goes to police over YouTube vid

Christchurch anti-abortion campaigner Ken Orr has laid a complaint with police after a video was posted on YouTube showing a gun being pointed at his head.

The video was posted a week ago by prochoicenz as a "message to Ken Orr right-to-life.org from the women of Aotearoa New Zealand".

It shows women giving the fingers, with messages such as "p... off" and "Mind your own f...... business".

One image is a photo of Orr with a gun pointing at his head.

By yesterday the video had been viewed more than 500 times and sparked 13 comments, ranging from support to calling it "defamatory rubbish".

A rebuttal video has since been posted as a message to Ken Orr "from thousands and thousands of (alive) babies and children in New Zealand", saying "you're our hero".

Created by a Canterbury University student who goes by the name theboygiggles, the video shows lots of smiling babies and thanks Orr for his campaign.

Orr said he was sent a link to the original clip by a friend and decided to lay a complaint. Last week he met a senior constable who said he would investigate.

The video was a response to a High Court judgment released this month that said there was "reason to doubt the lawfulness of many abortions authorised by certifying consultants", he said.

Orr's group, Right to Life New Zealand, had taken the case to court to question the legality of many abortions.

In his ruling, Justice Forrest Miller said the figures showing that more than 98 per cent of abortions were authorised on the grounds of risk to mental health were "remarkably high".

Orr called the judgment "the most important development in abortion law in the last 30 years".

A campaigner since 1972, he had experienced his fair share of criticism but felt the YouTube video crossed the line.

"I have been saddened by the video because it's unnecessary. It contains foul language and incitement to violence, which is most unhelpful," he said.

Prochoicenz said she did not really care that Orr had laid a police complaint.

"It means I've offended him as much as his disgusting behaviour and attitude had offended me," she said.

"I feel that lobby groups like Sensible Sentencing and Right to Life are dangerous and hateful and I don't feel safe when I see the likes of Ken Orr challenging a woman's personal right to safe abortion when she feels she needs one."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Michelle   #2   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

While I may not agree with the actions of those who posted the original video about Mr Orr, I still think he should but out of other peoples' lives and mind his own business. Abortion, safe abortion, has its place in society. It's not a contraceptive and shouldn't be treated as one, but what is the lesser evil? Ending a baby's life BEFORE it suffers or bringing more unwanted children in to the world? And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are endless reasons that women get abortions and they should always have the right to make that decision without people like Mr Orr questioning that right.

Jay   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Women have the right choose to have an abortion. I dont totally believe in abortions but there are soem circumstances when it is the right thing to do. Im more against a young girl getting pregnant and bringing a child into the world that wont be loved.

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