Anti-Abortion Guy Funds Recount Instead Of Plane – Dies When It Crashes

He should have spent that money on his plane (countless  Kansans)

Here’s a tragedy (for his loved ones) from the “You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up Files.”  Abortion is, thanks to Republican craziness including the GOP’s override of a veto of yet another appalling anti-abortion measure in my state of NC  hot & heavy in the news.  I agree with so many others the GOP (at the state level) seems bound and determined to drive the entire Party’s electability right over the cliff.  With the gas pedal pressed to the floorboard.  It makes no sense because again and again the GOP has had  example of example from voters, not legislators worried about a primary challenge but actual voters that even in damned near every red state that GOP controlled state houses are going to far in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision.

A prime exhibit of this was in Kansas of all places.  There was a ballot initiative to ensure abortion rights in that awfully red state.  Red though it is even Kansans have limits to how hard core they want to be, as pushback on some of a former Governor’s agenda happened.  Anyway, the abortion ballot measure was expected to be close, which given this is Kansas we’re talking about was surprising in and of itself wound up being a blowout.

In FAVOR of abortion rights in Kansas.

It wasn’t even close but RWNJ “Christian” zealots being what they are there was a strong desire for a recount.  Problem was, since the margin was a blowout, way the hell out of the margin that would allow a state funded recall that meant after jumping through all the hoops to get one those demanding a recount would have to come up with the money to pay for it.   And sure enough the needed money was raised.

That’s what brings us to the tragic tale of Mark Gietzen.

Mr. Gietzen was a long time anti-abortion activist.  I gather one of his hobbies was making wooden crosses he and fellow zealots would stick in the ground at their events.  Another was restoring old machines that could transport people.  Including an old Cessna he’d bought since he was also a licensed pilot.  I don’t know all the details but I suspect he got the plane for a song as it needed work.  A LOT of work in fact.  He’d spent fifteen years restoring it and getting it “flyable” but there was still work to be done.  It hadn’t even been certified for him to take a passenger up with him.

He had money he’d put together to really get the plane truly airworthy and with that 120k even if he continued to do all or most of the work himself (for some, if they’ve got the knowledge and skills restoring an old car, motorcycle or even plane by themselves is a point of pride.  I for one can respect that) I suspect it would have been in good shape and safe well before he crashed it.  Had he done what he’d originally intended with that money odds are he’d not only be alive and well today but flying himself, friends and family around the plains states.  Unfortunately from my point of view some of that flying would be to take part in anti-abortion rallies but hey – one of my life’s regrets/disappointments is that I never got my own pilot’s license and at least a share of a small plane.  (FYI, even single engine planes that carry only 2-4 people are expensive and it’s common for several people to pool resources and work out who gets use of the plane and when)

Gietzen, in a cruel (for him) twist of irony faced a choice.  He chose to donate that 120k to the bound to fail (which it did) recount.  As a result he didn’t come close to getting his plane into the kind of shape it needed to be, including going through the certification process to be able to carry passengers.  As the linked article notes, he took a “Oh well.  If I’d used that money for the plane it would be in better shape but for now I’ll just fly it on my own over unpopulated areas.

He crashed.  And died.

Now that I think about it, given how tricky weather can be he might have been doomed anyway.  One of the hallmarks of a good pilot, especially one flying small private aircraft is knowing when NOT to take off, and/or fly through rough weather.

Still, the main thing is that instead of spending the money he had to make his small plane truly airworthy he instead spent all that money stupidly – hoping to overturn the result of an election his side had lost by WAY more votes than any recount would ever make up.  Skimping on maintenance of one’s aircraft is not the recommended path to a long and happy life and dying a normal, (hopefully) pain free death.

The irony is really something to contemplate.  This dude had a CHOICE between doing the sensible, responsible thing for both himself and his loved ones.  In this case properly restoring a plan he was hell-bent on flying no matter what.  But he chose to waste it tilting at an “overturn a big election loss” that he wasn’t happy about, knowing deep in his heart how unlikely the effort to overturn those election results would be.  But hey, it’s the thought that counts.  Right?

He “made his statement” – that he was a staunch and dedicated anti-abortion zealot.  Because of it he’s dead and buried.  His wife is without a husband and his kids without a father.  I wonder after the initial grief has worn off if they will decide his choice was worth the cost?

Well, at least his irresponsible use of his not ready for the air Cessna didn’t kill anyone else.