Update: As of 6pm EST on November 2, 2009, eBay has taken down the rest of the items up for bid for violating their "offensive materials" policy.
Among the items for sale on eBay now to raise money for the "justifiable homicide" defense of Scott Roeder, the man accused of killing Dr. George Tiller in his church is a pamphlet signed by at least two members of the "Army of God" group that openly
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The description of the "catechism" up for auction includes several clearly intentional mis-spelling (such as "A.r.m.y, see below) in what seems a "sleight of hand," presumably meant to foil efforts by eBay and others to tie this item back to groups who perpetuate and advocate violence against medical doctors.
The description reads as follows:
This Catechism was written by Mike B.r.a.y after a court judgment against him by Planned Barrenhood (PP v. ACLA, 1995), for publishing a book, entitled PB to his “writings, published and unpublished.” However, PB has done little with its seized books, being unwilling to sell them, or to credit B.r.a.y’s judgment for their value. In fact, on October 14, Bray filed a lawsuit against PB for seizing more than Ohio law allowed, and then for not returning them when ordered by the court. The copy for auction, donated by him, is one of 500 printed in the city of his residence, Wilmington, Ohio. It summarizes the doctrines taught to children of Reformation Lutheran Church for 19 years. It used to instruct his remaining at-home children. The copy for sale is signed by its author, A.r.m.y of God activist Don S.p.i.t.z, A.r.m.y of God man-ual (reprint) publisher, Dave L.e.a.c.h, and the original F A C E defendant Re-gin-a Din-wid-die. It deals with traditional church doctrines. It briefly mentions abortion, looking to the day when it will once again be illegal.
Yet despite these connections, David Leach told the Kansas City Star, which first reported the auction:
"I really am hopeful that eBay can see that once this is up, that it is not a glorification of violence."
It is not clear what eBay intends to do about this. In an initial statement an eBay official said the company would not allow the auction.
An eBay official told the Star that the listings would violate its policy against "listings that benefit someone charged with or convicted of a crime," but the auction has gone ahead anyways. The seller of the items is listed as mission.of.life, who joined the service October 30.
And yet both the items and the sources clearly both advocate violence, no matter the use of tricks and veiled language, and also "seek to benefit someone charged with a crime."
eBay?
