State of the Union: Abortion in America

With Roe v. Wade on the line, abortion is at the center of American politics in red, blue and purple states. After the Democrats’ bill to codify a “right to abortion” in the Constitution failed to pass the Senate, states are champing at the bit to implement their own abortion laws. 

While President Joe Biden glossed over “women’s rights” and failed to utter the word abortion in his State of the Union address, we’re taking a look at the latest pro and anti-abortion bills across America. The latest bills are not only more extreme than the 1973 Supreme Court decision, but they trump Roe v. Wade in a futile attempt to outlive it. 

At the top of our list is Colorado’s legislation to legalize the killing of children up to birth. The bill, HB 1279, denies the right of a “fertilized egg, embryo or fetus” and prohibits the government from “denying, restricting, interfering with, or discriminating against an individual’s fundamental right” to kill their child at any stage of pregnancy.

The denial of rights to a child at all stages of life, early and late-term, highlights a major concern within the pro-life movement. Judie Brown of the American Life League (ALL) explains the term “in the womb” as the most dangerous phrase for children.

She continued, “It suggests that only the preborn children who are actually in the womb require protection by law and in the culture. This is a strategic error that has been adopted to defend the weak legislative proposals that are deemed to be small steps toward arriving at the goal and ending the killing.” 

While late-term abortions are already state law in Colorado, the new bill codifies a “right” to abortion, similar to the failed objective of the Women’s Health Protection Act. The state is known for its pro-late term abortion policies and advocates.

In Idaho, pro-life advocates are celebrating a legal win similar to the controversial Texas Heartbeat Bill. The bill bans abortions after six weeks, around the time a child’s heartbeat can be detected. However, the anti-abortion state has already passed legislation to prohibit abortions in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned. 

Similarly, Oklahoma is imitating the recent Texas bill by implementing similar methods. HB 4327 allows citizens to report abortions committed in the state through private lawsuits. However, the legislation applies to all abortions, not just those detected when a heartbeat is present. Lawmakers crafted the law after a surge of Texas mothers seeking abortion came to clinics in Oklahoma to avoid the Heartbeat Bill. 

While the number of abortions in Texas dropped by 60%, surrounding states experienced an influx. Reports suggest an Oklahoma City clinic assisted 12 Texas patients in August and 130 in September after the abortion law was passed. This trend is suspected to continue across states adjacent to those with new restrictive abortion laws.

Although the loophole may be another hurdle for the pro-life movement, it illustrates the importance of a federal abortion prohibition. 

Also in tune with the contentious Texas bill is Florida’s latest legislation banning abortions after 15 weeks. Life News reports that the bill has “exceptions if the mother’s life is at risk or the unborn baby has a fatal disorder. It also includes measures to reduce infant mortality and a requirement that abortion facilities report suspected human trafficking cases to the state.”

Pro-life analysts say the bill will save up to 5,000 children from late-term abortions per year.

With chemical abortions on the rise, Kentucky lawmakers are seeking to restrict abortion pill distribution through HB 3 by mandating an in-person doctor consultation. As American Liberty News previously reported, chemical abortion provides comfort and on-demand accessibility. “Women can kill their children from the comfort of their own homes. Without going to a clinic, speaking to a health professional or understanding the drastic risks of the procedure.”

The procedure begins with taking two pills, then, the pregnant woman experiences severe cramping, contractions and bleeding to expel her dead child, which she disposes of by flushing down the toilet. Symptoms, including bleeding, abdominal pain and nausea may continue for weeks. The procedure may lead to maternal death.

Bills like HB 3 decrease access to the abortion pill by forcing the mother to consider her abortion instead of simply ordering it via mail. Ideally, health consultations will warn women of the many adverse reactions of chemical abortions.

Brown, of ALL, outlined the abortion industry’s ploy best, noting that the medication is “marketed as a ‘missed period pill.’ Such promotion fails to let the potential user know that what she is about to ingest will kill her baby if she is already pregnant but not far enough along for the baby to be detected.”

One more pro-life win to federally support pregnancy centers just passed the Arkansas House of Representatives. One million dollars from the Department of Finance and Administration will go towards medical machinery and supplies such as diapers, formula and maternity clothes.

In the quest to build a post-Roe America, supporting pro-life organizations and mothers who are in need is vital. As a country, this is a required step in the recalibration of our value for the sanctity of life. 

Despite pro and anti-abortion legislation, the same issue remains until the practice is unthinkable. As Brown wrote, “whether the baby is killed by a birth control pill, an abortion pill or a surgical implement, the fundamentals do not really change. The result is still the same: A baby dies.” 

Editor’s Note: The status of legislation referenced in this article is of March 7.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

Antoinette Aho

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Antoinette Aho writes for American Liberty News primarily on pro-life news. Previously, she was the Politics Editor at Fact Based America and an intern for Campus Reform at the Leadership Institute. Antoinette is a young Catholic living in Sacramento, California.