He tries to picket five times a week, usually by himself and without violence.

"I've been in Hampton Roads over two decades," he said. "I've never hurt a soul."

A report from the Southern Poverty Law Center describes Spitz as "a wild-eyed extremist."

"He obviously applauds murdering people," said Heidi Beirich, director of research and special projects for the center. "He himself has not been engaged in any murders we know of. His ideas are encouraging this behavior. So, yes, he's dangerous."

Vicki Saporta, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation in Washington, D.C., said Spitz "must be praying to a different God than most of us."

"He's an anti-abortion extremist who believes in justifiable homicide and hosts the Army of God Web site, which walks a very fine line in terms of encouraging others to commit acts of violence."

Spitz's friends contend he is driven by a passion for the lives of innocent babies. They call his attackers "anti-Christian leftist organizations."

"They have nothing to fear from him," said John Brockhoeft, who has known Spitz for 10 years. "He has never used any kind of violence. He's a peaceful protester. They don't like him because he sheds light on wickedness."

Brockhoeft was convicted of firebombing a Cincinnati clinic in 1985 and again in 1988 after he was caught in Florida with bomb parts. He served two separate prison sentences totaling nearly seven years.

Another friend, Paul Hill, was the first person to be put to death in the United States for murdering an abortion provider.

Spitz was Hill's spiritual adviser in 2003 when he was executed in Florida. Nine years earlier, Hill shot a 69-year-old doctor and his unarmed escort outside a Pensacola clinic.

Such violence still remains justifiable to Spitz, who figures unborn babies scheduled to be aborted that day were saved by the assassination of one doctor.

"Paul Hill was my best friend," Spitz said. "To me, he's a hero. I know it's controversial but that abortionist was going to kill 32 unborn children and Paul stopped him."

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