The vicious attack on Susan Cahill’s All Families Healthcare clinic early in March should provide opponents in the abortion debate a chance for common ground — by condemning violence, illegal activity and possibly vigilantism.

Cahill is a physician’s assistant who has run her own clinic for a number of years, and yes, a small percentage of her clients seek legal first-trimester abortions from her — but she operates fully within the law and with the full support of her many patients.

This attack, therefore, should not be seized upon as a platform to settle the abortion debate. In a community ruled by law, it is plain that the priority is to punish the lawbreaker, not the victim.

We are confident almost everyone in the community is united in demanding justice for whoever committed the devastating vandalism. A suspect has been arrested and is awaiting arraignment on March 27. But let’s also remember that he has not been convicted of anything yet, nor has anything been established regarding motive.

Regardless of our hopes, it does seem that a few people on both sides have been quick to judge — too quick, in our opinion. Abortion opponents have celebrated the closure of the clinic, even though it was clearly accomplished by illegal means. And abortion-rights advocates have just as quickly condemned the entire Christian community for preaching that abortion is a sin.

Both sides should step back, respect each other’s rights and vow to continue their battle by fair means. The correct place to change the law on abortion, if you wish to do so, is in the courts and in the Congress — certainly not through violence.

Carson’s story inspiring

Stillwater Christian School deserves considerable credit for bringing Dr. Ben Carson to Kalispell for a recent speaking engagement, and for putting Carson’s example to work with students through a reading challenge.

To say Carson is inspiring is an understatement. He rose from a humble childhood in a crime- and poverty-plagued minority neighborhood to become a world-renowned neurosurgeon who has become a national conservative leader. Carson credits his mother for challenging him to read two books a week, a practice that helped carry him to the top of his class.

Using that example, Stillwater established the Ben Carson Book Club reading challenge, and over a 15-week period, students read a combined 255,208 pages in addition to limiting the time they spent watching television and movies.

It’s not often when well-known figures inspire such practical pursuits of self-improvement, and both Stillwater and Carson should be applauded.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.