Abortion Clinic Violence
The perpetrators of abortion clinic violence have proved to be vulnerable
to the federal laws ATF enforces. Since 1982, there have been 169 arsons
and/or bombings of abortion clinics. Seventy-seven of these incidents
have been solved by a partnership consisting of ATF and State and local
counterparts, resulting either in arrests, convictions, indictments, and/or
incarcerations in prison facilities or State mental institutions.
Reemphasizing ATF's commitment to a combined effort toward investigating arsons and bombings directed at abortion providers and family planning clinics is a national program established in conjunction with the National Abortion Federation and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. As part of this program, the National Abortion Federation and Planned Parenthood, with the help of an anonymous donor, established a reward of up to $100,000 per incident for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for arson fires, bombings, and serious acts of violence at abortion and family planning clinics. ATF in turn set up a hotline to receive this information. This number is 1-888-ATF-BOMB.
Historically, ATF's State and local counterparts have played a vital role in these investigations. However, they have also had to shoulder the responsibility for responding to the numerous anti-abortion threats and incidents of vandalism and harassment. Until the passage of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994, these types of crimes were not under the jurisdiction of Federal agencies. In furtherance of Federal efforts against this violence, the Attorney General designated a task force comprised of ATF, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Justice to determine if a national conspiracy or conspiracies exist. The task force's investigation continues.
ATF will continue to target any person or group who would jeopardize the lives and property of others and violate federal arson and explosives laws to promote their own cause. Click here for investigations involving abortion-clinic violence.