The first time Dr. George Tiller was shot by an anti-abortion terrorist was also soon after the election of a pro-choice president. P

The pattern is not reassuring. P

That time, in 1993, the Kansas doctor was wounded in the arms by Shelley Shannon of southern Oregon, still in prison for the shooting.

That attack was part of a wave of shootings and bombings from 1993 to 1998 -- including the murders of two doctors, two clinic workers, a security escort and a policeman -- following the election and re-election of a president supporting a right to abortion and security for clinics. P

It's enough to make you worry that Dr. Tiller's murder Sunday won't be the last. P

According to Heidi Beirich, director of research at the Southern Poverty Law Center in Birmingham, Ala., which keeps track of domestic terrorism, it's not even the first. Beirich cites Richard Poplawski of Pittsburgh, who began stockpiling weapons and fearing that Obama would take them away, and in April allegedly killed three Pittsburgh policemen who came to ask about his arsenal. P

"Domestic terrorism seems to be picking up," says Beirich. "It happened in the '90s, and it's happening again." P

When certain folks feel political trends running against them, they may move to more violent strategies. Whatever the cable jabberers claim, this isn't about the particular kinds of abortions performed by Tiller -- many of the '90s casualties hardly fit that pattern -- it's about people ready to brutally impose their will on other people's political decisions. P

"After the election in November," says Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion Federation, a group of providers, "we sent our members an alert asking them to be on heightened alert. We know from experience that electoral losses can stir anti-abortion forces." P

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security issued a report, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling a Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," warning of extremist hostility to the new administration and noting "Rightwing extremism .$?.$?. may include groups or individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or to immigration." P

The list might include groups such as the Army of God, whose Web site exults today, "The lives of innocent babies scheduled to be murdered by George Tiller are spared by the action of American hero Scott Roeder. George Tiller the Babykiller reaped what he sowed and is now in eternal hell." P

Still, the Homeland Security report was blasted, partly for a mention that groups might seek to recruit militarily skilled veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, partly because of charges that it smeared the administration's political opponents. Republican national chairman Michael Steele claimed the report attacked peaceful dissenters "as terrorists." P

To Heidi Beirich, the report "wasn't doing anything but stating the obvious." P

But it seems more acceptable to be concerned about some kinds of terrorism than others. P

This is not part of a debate about abortion, as much as relatively mainstream voices denounced Tiller as a "killer" and a "Nazi," and then piously professed their dismay at his murder. This is about using extreme violence to create fear and force people to behave the way you want them to. P

That strategy has an obvious definition. P

This may be why Randall Terry, founder of Operation Rescue, complains, "I am more concerned that the Obama administration will use Tiller's killing to intimidate pro-lifers into surrendering our most effective rhetoric and actions." P

Especially actions. P

The overwhelming bulk of anti-abortion activity, of course, has nothing to do with violence or intimidation. But when political trends run against them, parts of the fringe tend to turn to bloody reprisal. P

And it's at least important to call that what it is. P

"As long as you have a terrorist who is willing to walk into a church and kill one person, as long as that element is in society, this is the risk we take," said Dr. George Carhart, who worked with Dr. Tiller, after Tiller's murder. "You can't live your life based on fear. You have to live by your principles." P

Or you can live by terrorism. P