A Planned Parenthood health center in West Hollywood was opened under heavy guard Tuesday morning in the wake of a deadly shooting at the nonprofit's clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's West Hollywood station said an operation plan was in place to deal with any safety issues as Planned Parenthood opened its 20th facility in Los Angeles County on World AIDS Day.
"Planned Parenthood's top priority is the safety and well-being of patients and staff. Its doors are open today, in Colorado and across the country, and nothing will deter Planned Parenthood from providing high-quality health care to its patients," the group said in a news release.
Last Friday, a shooting attack at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs left three people dead, including a police officer, and nine others wounded. A 57-year-old man was arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection with the killings.
Speaking at a global warming conference Tuesday, President Barack Obama says he hopes the shooting spurs conversation and action on deterring gun violence.
Sue Dunlap, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, said clinics get about 1,000 visitors per day and the demand for service continues to grow. The services at the West Hollywood location will include birth control, cancer screenings, HIV testing and prevention drugs — and eventually, abortion. Dunlap says they will not apologize for providing abortion services despite the opposition to it.
"No matter how much security we put in place hard things happen, and there's sometimes a difference between feeling safe and being safe. And it's our job to work to make sure people both feel safe and are safe," Dunlap said.
Rick Montanez contributed to this report.
