Pro-Life Movement on Fire in the States

from The Washington Flyer

While the abortion debate seems to be fading from the national platform, several states have taken on the fight to protect the unborn. Alaska made history this past week after voters passed a parental notification law, mandating a minor notify her parents before an abortion is administered. This marked the first time in history a parental notification law was passed by voters and not by the state’s legislature. The measure passed with 55% of the vote.

Alaska is not the only state turning to voters rather than its legislature to ensure protections for life. Colorado has also begun a massive campaign to urge voters to support a personhood amendment to the state’s constitution. The amendment defines a “person” as any human being beginning at conception through natural death. In order to garner support, a website dedicated to the ballot initiative MyCampaignTracker.org was created and designed to “encourage the grassroots personhood movement in Colorado” and “to reach local communities across our state with our campaign message of ‘Persons not Property,’ through November’s election.” The campaign has seen overwhelming support from pro-lifers in the state as well as from many candidates seeking election.

South Carolina and Virginia have also been supportive of the pro-life movement. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford signed into law H3245, a bill that would require a 24-hour waiting period for a woman seeking an abortion and would require that the doctor offer the woman an opportunity to look at an ultrasound of the child before an abortion. In Virginia, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli stated this week that abortion clinics will now be legally regulated just as any other medical establishment. Brian J. Gottstein, a spokesman for Mr. Cuccinelli stated, “The state has long regulated outpatient surgical facilities and personnel to ensure a certain level of protection for patients. There is no reason to hold facilities providing abortion services to any lesser standard for their patients. Even pharmacies, funeral homes and veterinary clinics are regulated by the state.”

While the economy and jobs have dominated the federal debate, the pro-life movement continues to gain support among constituents at the state level, winning major victories throughout the nation.