I understand you wanting to run a tight ship in the troll-infested waters of this BBS, but in the case of removing Eagler's thread about partial-birth abortion, I think it was inapproporiate to lock the thread and remove the animated gif.
While disturbing to look at, that gif merely demonstrates how the partial-birth abortion is performed. So if you remove it from the boards, that still does not change the fact of how the procedure is performed.
Actually, I think that thread was very educational. From a pro-choice perspective, I can see why they would feel relieved that you removed the gif, since the reality of the procedure makes their defense of it unconscionable.
Just my humble 2 cents....I don't mean to make waves, but I really think you went a little overboard on this one.