Editing Abortion (section)

===Anti-abortion violence===
{{Main|Anti-abortion violence}}
Abortion providers and facilities have been subjected to violence, including murder, assault, arson, and bombing. Some scholars consider anti-abortion violence to be within the [[definition of terrorism]],<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Wilson M, Lynxwiler J | title = Abortion clinic violence as terrorism | journal = Terrorism | volume = 11 | issue = 4 | pages = 263–273 | year = 1988 | pmid = 11618209 | doi = 10.1080/10576108808435717 }}</ref> a view shared by some governments.<ref name="csis">{{cite web | vauthors = Smith GD |publisher=Canadian Security Intelligence Service |year=1998 |url=http://www.csis-scrs.gc.ca/en/publications/commentary/com74.asp |title=Single Issue Terrorism Commentary |access-date= 1 September 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015065711/http://csis-scrs.gc.ca/en/publications/commentary/com74.asp| archive-date=15 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the U.S. and Canada, over 8,000 incidents of violence, trespassing, and death threats have been recorded by providers since 1977, including over 200 bombings/arsons and hundreds of assaults.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://prochoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-NAF-Violence-and-Disruption-Statistics.pdf| title=2017 violence and disruption statistics |last=National Abortion Federation| date=2017|access-date=26 May 2019| archive-date=28 July 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728204107/https://prochoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-NAF-Violence-and-Disruption-Statistics.pdf| url-status=live}}</ref> Abortion clinics have also been targeted by [[Acid attack|acid attacks]], invasions, and vandalism<ref name="naf">{{cite web |publisher=National Abortion Federation| year=2009 |url=http://www.prochoice.org/pubs_research/publications/downloads/about_abortion/violence_stats.pdf |title=Incidence of Violence & Disruption Against Abortion Providers in the U.S. & Canada |access-date=9 February 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613042214/http://prochoice.org/pubs_research/publications/downloads/about_abortion/violence_stats.pdf |archive-date=13 June 2010  }}</ref> The majority of abortion opponents have not been involved in violent acts. 

Physicians and other abortion clinic staff have been murdered by abortion opponents. In the United States, at least four physicians have been murdered in connection with their work at abortion clinics, including [[David Gunn (doctor)|David Gunn]] (1993), [[John Britton (doctor)|John Britton]] (1994), [[Barnett Slepian]] (1998), and [[George Tiller]] (2009). In Canada, gynecologist [[Garson Romalis]] survived murder attempts in both 1994 and 2000. Besides physicians, killings have targeted other clinic staff, such as [[John Salvi|John Salvi's]] 1994 murder of two receptionists in Massachusetts clinic and [[Peter James Knight|Peter Knight's]] 2001 murder of a security guard in a [[Melbourne]] clinic. Notable perpetrators of anti-abortion violence include [[Eric Rudolph]], [[Scott Roeder]], [[Shelley Shannon]], and [[Paul Jennings Hill|Paul Hill]], the first person to be executed in the United States for murdering an abortion provider.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1999/feb/03/features11.g26 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=3 February 1999 |title=The bomber under siege | vauthors = Borger J |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222105914/https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1999/feb/03/features11.g26 |archive-date=22 February 2017  }}</ref>

Some countries have [[Legal protection of access to abortion|laws to protecting access to abortion]]. 
Such laws prevent abortion opponents from interfering with access to legal abortion services. For example, the American [[Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act]] bars the use of threats or violence to interfere with abortion access. Abortion access laws may also establish [[safe access zone]]s around abortion clinics, with limits on protests and enhanced penalties for anti-abortion violence.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pridemore |first1=William Alex |author1-link=William Alex Pridemore |last2=Freilich |first2=Joshua D. |date=2007-12-01 |title=The Impact of State Laws Protecting Abortion Clinics and Reproductive Rights on Crimes Against Abortion Providers: Deterrence, Backlash, or Neither? |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10979-006-9078-0 |journal=Law and Human Behavior |language=en |volume=31 |issue=6 |pages=611–627 |doi=10.1007/s10979-006-9078-0 |pmid=17268826 |issn=1573-661X}}</ref>

Psychological pressure may also be used to limit abortion access. Some protestors record women entering clinics on camera.{{sfn|Doan|2007|p=2}}