Michigan Man Who Shot Pro-Life Canvasser Sentenced to Community Service

On May 23, 75-year-old Richard Harvey was sentenced to two months in jail and 100 hours of community service for shooting Joan Jacobson, an 84-year-old pro-life advocate advocating against legislation that would enshrine a right to abortions in the state constitution.

Harvey pleaded no contest to the charges of felonious assault, careless discharge of a firearm causing injury, and reckless discharge of a firearm.

Judge Suzanne Hoseth Kreeger imposed a suspended sentence of two months. Harvey will not serve any time in jail if he abides by the conditions of his probation (which order him to have no contact with Jacobson). Harvey must also pay court costs and $347.19 in restitution.

Jacobson was canvassing door-to-door against the pro-abortion constitutional amendment, which was since passed by Michigan voters. She was arguing with Harvey's pro-abortion wife about the topic when he approached with a gun.

Harvey told the court that he believed Jacobson would hit his wife with her clipboard, so he used his gun to try and knock it out of her hands. In doing so, he shot Jacobson; narrowly missing her spine. Jacobson then drove herself to a nearby police station. From there, she was transported to the hospital.

Jacobson read a victim impact statement at Harvey's sentencing hearing.

“I’m still in disbelief that this incident happened to me,” she said. “I still wonder what was so offensive that I did or said in my brief encounter with Mrs. Harvey that made (Richard Harvey) decide I was a threat and needed to get a gun.”

“I have supported Right to Life my entire life — respecting life from the first moment of conception until natural death has fostered in me a heart that forgives and will do no harm to anyone, except of course in self-defense,” Jacobson said. “I wouldn’t harm Mrs. Harvey and I did nothing to show her I intended to harm her. I came to their home for the purpose of saving lives, not to take lives.”

Jacobson said that she forgives the Harveys, though she would appreciate an apology.

Many pro-lifers express concerns that such light sentencing will encourage further violence against pro-life advocates.

Click here to read more.

Happy Memorial Day

 

Federal Courts Rule California Can't Force Churches to Cover Abortion

Two federal courts in California ruled this month that the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) cannot force churches to cover abortions in their employee health insurance plans. The rulings found the mandate to violate the churches' first amendment rights, and the state will have to pay $1.4 million towards the churches' attorneys fees.

Alliance Defending Freedom filed lawsuits on behalf of several churches in 2015 and 2016 after the DMHC announced a state mandate that abortion be covered in health insurance plans. Emails discovered during the lawsuit revealed that Planned Parenthood influenced the California agency's policies under a threat that they would push their own legislative solution.

“The government can’t force a church or any other religious employer to violate their faith and conscience by participating in funding abortion,” said ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus. “For years, California officials, in collaboration with Planned Parenthood, have unconstitutionally targeted faith-based organizations. This is a significant victory for the churches we represent, the conscience rights of their members, and other religious organizations that shouldn’t be ordered by the government to violate some of their deepest faith convictions.”

“In both cases, the courts ruled that the U.S. Constitution protects the churches’ freedom to operate according to their religious beliefs, which include their belief in the sanctity of unborn lives,” ADF also noted.

Click here to read more.

Michigan Gov. Signs Law to Strip Employers of Conscience Protections

On May 17, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation mandating that all employer-benefit plans that cover pregnancy care must also cover elective abortions. Employers must now choose between providing abortion coverage or dropping healthcare benefits.

The legislation was passed as an amendment to the Elliot Larson Civil Right Act, which provides protection from discrimination.

“This legislation was rapidly pushed by the proabortion legislature and now Governor Whitmer to promote their abortion agenda,” stated Genevieve Marnon, Legislative Director, Right to Life of Michigan. “To include an ‘action’ in the Elliot-Larsen law is a radical departure from the intent and spirit of the ELRCA, which was designed to prevent discrimination against people for immutable characteristics such as gender, race, religion etc.”

Rhode Island Gov. Signs Bill to Cover Abortion with Tax Dollars

Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee (D)

On May 18, Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee (D) signed legislation mandating the use of tax dollars to cover abortions for state employees and Medicaid recipients.

The "Equality in Abortion Coverage Act" overrides a previous state law, which prohibited abortion from being covered under Rhode Island's state health insurance.

“Here in Rhode Island, we will always protect a woman's right to choose and ensure equal access to these crucial health care services,” McKee said in a press release. “As Governor, I am proud to sign this bill into law and I was proud to include related funding in my budget proposal this year. Thank you to all the legislative leaders and advocates who worked tirelessly to get this legislation over the finish line.”

“The purpose of Medicaid is to expand access to health care, not to limit it,” said Lt. Governor Sabina Matos. “I'm proud that after years of work, the passage of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act has eliminated unjust restrictions on who can afford to access to reproductive health care in Rhode Island. This victory for equity in health care was only possible due to the passionate advocacy of the citizens who made their voice heard year after year here at the State House.”

Taxpayer-funded abortion was not universally supported by "pro-choice" democratic legislators. Some legislators, like Rep Charlene Lima (D), argued that forcing pro-life taxpayers to foot the bill for abortions is "fundamentally wrong."

“It is fundamentally wrong to ask the taxpayers to pay for Medicaid abortions and abortion coverage under taxpayer-funded state insurance plans … I plan to vote no,” Lima said. “The taxpayers who have a fundamental belief against abortion are going to have to pay for it. Don’t say the taxpayers aren’t going to pay for it, we know they are.”

Click here to read more.

Granite City Abortion Clinic Hospitalizes 13-Year Old During Abortion

photo taken by a pro-life advocate
outside Hope Clinic on April 28

A newly released 911 recording reveals that on April 28, Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City, Illinois hospitalized a 13-year-old girl who just had an abortion.

Operation Rescue reported earlier this month that the clinic hospitalized patients at least four times between March and April of 2023. This April 28 emergency was the fourth of those incidents. Operation Rescue did not expect to receive any 911 records at the time because RuralMed EMS, a private ambulance service based over an hour away from Hope Clinic, provided transportation. It turns out that RuralMed EMS secured a contract with Effingham County to be dispatched through the public 911 service. This was one such instance.

During the 911 call, a staffer told the dispatcher that the girl just had a D&C abortion and was suffering from an "anterior perforation." No further information about the girl's condition is available. Granite City refused to provide redacted dispatch reports to Operation Rescue, and the 911 dispatcher didn't ask any further questions about the patient's condition before sending an ambulance.

D&C abortions are usually done during the first trimester. They involve the use of suction (often through a vacuum aspirator) to pull the preborn child from a mother's womb. This suction often violently tears the child's body apart. Potential complications include uterine perforations and infection, which can lead to infertility.

The Hope Clinic employee requested that the girl be transferred to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. That hospital is 20 minutes away, but there is a hospital directly across the street from Hope Clinic. Barnes is a level 1 trauma center capable of handling more serious injuries, and Hope makes this request frequently. This indicates that the average severity of injuries caused by Hope Clinic is high.

“We hope and pray that this poor girl lived through this deadly ordeal,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “If so, we pray for her as she begins a long journey of physical and emotional healing from the repeated forms of victimization that no child should ever have to endure.”

Click here to read more.

Nebraska Gov. Signs 12-Week Abortion Limit

Gov. Jim Pillen (R) signing LB574

On May 22, Nebraska Gov Jim Pillen (R) signed legislation prohibiting elective abortions after 12 weeks gestation. The law, which went into effect immediately, includes exceptions for rape, incest, and when the mother's life is in danger.

Nebraska's prior limit was at 20 weeks gestation.

"Today is a historic day in the State of Nebraska. It is a day where we are standing up and protecting our kids so that they can have a better and brighter future," said Governor Pillen. "LB574 is the most significant win for social conservatives in a generation, and is part of what has been a historic legislative session with senators voting for policies that protect our kids, cut taxes, grow agriculture, and defend our Nebraska values."

“The leadership shown by Governor Pillen led us to the place where we can now witness further safeguards for children in the womb,” said Sandy Danek, Executive Director of Nebraska Right to Life. 

“While this law does not go as far as any of us would have wanted, the lives it saves have an impact on Nebraska families and creates the possibility for life-affirming alternatives.” Danek referred to The Nebraska Heartbeat Act, which would have prohibited abortion after six weeks gestation. That bill was one vote short of breaking a filibuster.

Click here to read more.

52nd Annual Right to Life Convention Begins June 23

National Right to Life will hold its 52nd annual convention on June 23rd to help equip pro-life advocates with skills and knowledge they can use to benefit the pro-life cause.

Visit nrlconvention.com to register if you would like to attend the event.

WHAT:

52nd Annual National Right to Life Convention

WHERE:

Hyatt Regency Pittsburgh International Airport Hotel

1111 Airport Blvd.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15231

WHEN:

Friday, June 23 – Saturday, June 24, 2023

WHO:

Featured speakers include:

Seth Dillon, The Babylon Bee CEO

Erik Rosales, EWTN News Nightly Capitol Hill Correspondent

Benjamin Watson, Former NFL tight end, pro-life speaker and author National Right to Life President Carol Tobias

Olivia Gans Turner, co-founder of Women Exploited by Abortion and former director of American Victims of Abortion (A.V.A.)

Alex Schadenberg, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition President

Writer, author, and bioethics expert Wesley J. Smith, J.D., Discovery Institute & Humanize Podcast Host

Tom Glessner J.D., National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) Founder and President

Lauren Eden, Abortion Survivors Network

Amy Ford, Embrace Grace President

Visit nrlconvention.com to learn more.

Montana Gov Signs Bill Outlawing Dismemberment Abortions

On May 16, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed another set of pro-life bills designed to regulate abortion businesses and ensure that Medicaid funds are not used to cover elective abortions. One of these bills outlawed dismemberment abortion, and another prohibits abortion at 24 weeks gestation. Both of these laws were blocked by Judge Mike Menahan after Planned Parenthood challenged them.

Abortionists opt for dismemberment abortions (otherwise known as dilation and evacuation abortions) during the second trimester or later. At these stages, the child has developed too much for the abortion pill or vacuum aspiration methods to be effective.

Dismemberment abortions involve an abortionist reaching into a mother's womb through her dilated cervix with metal forceps. The abortionist uses these forceps to tear the arms and legs from the unborn child's body and crush the child's skull.

“Dismemberment abortion for nontherapeutic or elective reasons is a barbaric practice, dangerous for the mother, and demeaning to the medical profession,” Gov. Gianforte said during a bill signing ceremony. “House Bill 721 makes clear that it has no place in Montana.”

The 24-week ban would have required abortion businesses to perform ultrasounds on any women who seek abortions to confirm that the child is not viable. The abortion business would need to keep written documentation confirming the child isn't viable.

Click here to read more.

New York Gov. Signs Legislation Promoting Abortion Pills

On May 2, New Yock Gov Kathy Hochul (D) signed legislation requiring publicly-funded university systems to facilitate access to the abortion pill.

The new law allows campuses to comply either by hiring abortion pill providers or by referring students to providers. In either case, taxpayer dollars would be used to promote abortion to students at publicly funded universities. The law is set to take effect on August 1.

“Our state has, from the beginning, fought this great fight,” Hochul said at a press conference. “Abortion was legal in New York three years before the rest of the nation, before Roe v. Wade was decided. And we’re going to do everything in our power to stop the backslide while expanding reproductive rights here in our state.”

“And I know that there are states where these battles are going to be waged, which is why I’ve taken action as Governor to make sure that New York remains a sanctuary for anyone seeking reproductive care, that abortion remains safe, accessible, and legal in our state.”

In the same press conference, Hochul advocated for the ratification of the long-dead Equal Rights Amendment, stating that it would "enshrine abortion rights in our Constitution."

Click here to read more.

Nevada Legislators Advance Measure to Create Constitutional Right to Abortion

On May 10, Nevada lawmakers voted to advance a proposed constitutional amendment creating a right to abortion.

The description of the proposed amendment says that it,

“guarantees each individual in this State a fundamental right to reproductive freedom; authorizes the State to regulate abortion care after fetal viability with certain exceptions; and prevents the State from penalizing, prosecuting or taking any other adverse action against an individual or entity for exercising the right to reproductive freedom or for aiding or assisting another individual in exercising his or her right to reproductive freedom.”

To amend the state constitution, legislators must pass the proposal again in 2025 for it to appear on the ballot for voters in 2026.

Abortion is already legal through 24 weeks under Nevada law. This amendment would further cement and expand abortion in the state. Nevada Right to Life argues that the vague and broad language in the amendment would do far more than its description states.

In a legislative alert, Nevada Right to Life argued that the amendment would allow abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, eliminate parental consent, and remove safety regulations.

SJR7 is poorly conceived, poorly written, and is an over-broad word salad that at best will keep Nevada Courts occupied for a decade deciding what it really means and at worst turn Nevada into an abortion industrial complex preying on one of the greatest tragedies a woman faces.

Click here to read more.

California Lawsuit Intends to Strike Down Assisted Suicide Laws

A coalition of groups launched a lawsuit challenging California's assisted suicide law on April 25, 2023. The coalition intends to take it all the way to the Supreme Court to strike down assisted suicide laws across the country.

Plaintiffs argue that "California’s assisted suicide law is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the equal protection and substantive due process clauses in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution." A synopsis of their argument can be found on the coalition's website here.

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines a "terminal disease" as a disability. Thus, the coalition argues that assisted suicide laws discriminate against those with terminal diseases by prescribing them radically different care. These laws steer people towards prescribed death rather than supportive services.

It should be noted that assisted suicide is also prescribed to people with non-terminal diseases and conditions. In some states, HIV, diabetes, or even anorexia are enough for states to allow assisted suicide.

The coalition consists of organizations with disabled members, individual persons with disabilities, and organizations that advocate for the disabled. Members of the coalition include the United Spinal Association, Not Dead Yet, Institute for Patients’ Rights, Communities Actively Living Independent and Free, Lonnie VanHook, and Ingrid Tischer.

Assisted suicide is currently legal in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Vermont just passed a law legalizing assisted suicide for non-residents, and Oregon currently does not enforce its residency requirement.

Click here to read more.

North Carolina Legislators Override Veto to Pass 12-Week Abortion Ban

On May 16, North Carolina legislators voted to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a 12-week abortion ban.

The override votes were strictly along party lines, with Republicans voting as a block in favor of the pro-life law. The House voted 72-48, and the Senate voted 30-20.

The new law, taking effect July 1, will include exceptions for when the mother's life is at risk. In cases of rape or incest, abortion will remain legal until the 20th week of pregnancy. If the child is diagnosed with a life-threatening anomaly, abortion will be legal until 24 weeks.

North Carolina's current law bans abortion at 20 weeks.

The new law also creates a 72-hour waiting period after a mother first visits an abortionist, and it requires the first dose of the abortion pill regimen to be taken in the presence of a physician.

Finally, the law creates several pro-life policies that benefit women. It establishes eight weeks of paid parental leave for teachers and other state employees, and it provides $180 million for initiatives such as child care and foster care.

Click here to read more.

US Supreme Court Upholds Indiana's Law Requiring Humane Treatment of Fetal Remains

A challenge to Indiana's law requiring abortion businesses to bury or cremate the remains of aborted children reached a decision at the US Supreme Court this month.

On May 1, the US Supreme Court ruled that it will not hear the challenge brought by an Indiana abortion business. It upheld a decision by the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that the law did not violate the first amendment rights of abortion businesses.

The 7th Circuit wrote in its decision, “A moral objection to one potential implication of the way medical providers handle fetal remains,” the court’s opinion states, “is some distance from a contention that the state compels any woman to violate her own religious tenets.”

This is the second time the Supreme Court has upheld Indiana's fetal remains law. The court held in 2019 that the state had a legitimate interest in regulating the disposal of fetal remains and the law did not inhibit women from obtaining abortions.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita wrote on Twitter, “The Supreme Court’s ruling will allow our state to treat unborn, innocent babies with the dignity they rightly deserve. My office will continue fighting to protect the right to life while the radical left dismisses this invaluable gift.”

Click here to read more.

New Vermont Law Allows Non-Residents to Die by Assisted Suicide

On May 2, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed a law making his state the first in the nation to legalize assisted suicide for non-residents.

Vermont's assisted suicide law originally required that any recipients of assisted suicide be residents of Vermont. By removing this requirement, Vermont has opened itself up for "assisted suicide tourism." Vulnerable people from other states will travel to Vermont to be killed by euthanasia.

Mary Hahn Beerworth, executive director of the Vermont Right to Life Committee, testified before a legislative committee in March.

“To be clear, Vermont Right to Life opposed the underlying concept behind assisted suicide and opposes the move to remove the residency requirement as there are still no safeguards that protect vulnerable patients from coercion,” Beerworth said.

Click here to read more.

DeSantis Signs Bill Protecting Conscience Rights

On May 11, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill protecting medical professionals and organizations from being forced to participate in abortions or other controversial procedures.

The law prohibits employers from taking adverse actions against employees who refuse to participate in certain services due to a conscience-based objection. The law defines a conscience-based objection as an objection “based on a sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical belief.” Laws requiring healthcare professionals to provide emergency medical treatment still apply.

Employers break the law if they fire, suspend, or discipline employees due to a conscientious objection.

In addition to medical professionals, the law protects individuals and organizations who provide payments for others' health care services.

“It is the intent of the Legislature to provide the right of medical conscience for health care providers and payors to ensure they can care for patients in a manner consistent with their moral, ethical, and religious convictions,” the legislation states. “Further, it is the intent of the Legislature that licensed health care providers and payors be free from threat of discrimination for providing conscience-based health care.”

The law also forbids the Department of Health and medical licensing boards from taking disciplinary action against medical professionals for taking public stances about healthcare services or public policy.

Click here to read more.

Ohio Legislature Approves Amendment to Increase Majority Needed to Amend Constitution

On May 10, the Ohio House of Representatives voted to approve a resolution that would make it harder to amend the state's constitution. The change would require a sixty percent majority rather than the currently required simple majority. Voters will have the opportunity to vote on this change during a special election in August.

The Ohio Senate had already approved the resolution. The House made some changes, but the Senate quickly approved them after the House voted on May 10.

The resolution would also require citizen-driven ballot initiatives that would amend the Ohio constitution to collect signatures from all 88 counties.

Pro-abortion groups argue that it is not legal for the Ohio legislature to create an August special election by way of joint resolution rather than state law. If the resolution is challenged in court, it may prevent the August special election from taking place.

Pro-life advocates pushed for the resolution after pro-abortion groups submitted a ballot measure for an amendment that would create a constitutional right to abortion in the state. Pro-abortion groups are still gathering the signatures required to place that amendment on the state's November ballot. They face a deadline of July 5 to collect the necessary signatures.

The proposed pro-abortion amendment is also facing a lawsuit from pro-life groups who argue that it should be split into several separate proposals. As written, the amendment would create rights to contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one's own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.

Maryland Gov Signs Pro-Abortion Bills

Maryland Gov Wes Moore (D)

On May 3, Maryland Gov Wes Moore (D) signed a slew of pro-abortion bills into law. One of these advanced a proposed state constitutional amendment creating a right to abortion at all stages of pregnancy.

House Bill 705 will put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. If voters approve it, it would create a “fundamental right to reproductive freedom.” This right would apply through all stages of pregnancy.

Senate Bill 859 protects abortionists from penalties imposed by states with pro-life laws. If an abortionist flees to Maryland after breaking pro-life laws in another state, Maryland officials are prohibited from cooperating with the other state's investigation. Illinois passed a similar law during the lame-duck session in January.

Senate Bill 341 requires public universities to develop and implement a “reproductive health services plan.” This will likely involve taxpayer-funded abortion.

Senate Bill 786 prevents information about an abortion from entering public health records, health information exchanges, and electronic health networks. This legislation could put women's health at risk. Doctors may need medical history to help diagnose current health issues and determine what care to provide. That becomes difficult if information related to a prior abortion and any complications are withheld from medical records.

“It is clear that the public policy in Maryland views abortion as the only possible response to an unplanned pregnancy,” said Assistant House Minority Leader Delegate April Rose. “...There are many women who carry unplanned pregnancies to term, and they should get as much support from the state to access perinatal care, childcare, and even adoption services if they so desire. The types of policies this state is adopting not only support abortion but encourage it. As someone who was fortunate enough to be adopted by a loving family, I truly hope Maryland can focus on ways to support these mothers and the lives of their unborn babies.”

Click here to read more.

Judge Blocks Utah Law Banning Abortion Businesses

On May 2, a state judge in Utah granted an injunction blocking a new law that would ban abortion facilities in the state. His injunction came one day before the law was set to go into effect.

The new law would prohibit the licensing of new abortion facilities, and it would force existing abortion clinics to close once their licenses expire. The ACLU and Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit challenging the law; arguing that it violates the state constitution's rights to privacy and bodily integrity.

Judge Andrew Stone wrote in his ruling that the law "singles out" abortion clinics and that abortions performed by outpatient clinics are "equally as safe as those performed in a hospital."

Assistant Attorney General Lance Sorenson argued otherwise. “(Hospitals) operate under higher standards of care pursuant to the regulations,” Sorenson said. “They have better emergency care — that’s why (Planned Parenthood) transfers cases to hospitals annually for emergency care.”

Abortion businesses don't have the resources to treat women during medical emergencies caused by abortion. Hospital transfers are a common occurrence. Over the last month, Operation Rescue has reported on seven medical emergencies caused by abortion clinics in Illinois.

Stone's injunction will allow Utah's four abortion businesses to remain open for the time being.

Click here to read more.

Granite City Abortion Clinic Hospitalizes Four Women in Two Months

patient being wheeled into an ambulance outside
Hope Clinic for Women on March 16, 2023

This year during March and April alone, pro-life advocates have documented four medical emergencies at Hope Clinic for Women (HCW) in Granite City, Illinois.

Sidewalk advocates outside the clinic reported these emergencies to Operation Rescue, a pro-life organization that documents hospitalizations caused by abortion businesses. Operation Rescue was able to retrieve 911 recordings through information requests in three of these cases.

Click here to listen to those recordings.

On March 10 at about 10am, an HCW employee called 911 to request an ambulance for a patient that was "having some bleeding" and was "currently stable." Except to confirm that the patient had "a procedure," the 911 operator did not ask any other questions about the patient's condition. This is out of character for calls of this nature. In other calls obtained by Operation Rescue, dispatchers often ask whether the patient is conscious, whether she is on blood thinners, or how long she has been bleeding.

On March 16, an employee called 911 shortly after noon to request an ambulance for a 22-year-old patient. Again, the dispatcher asked very few questions. The HCW employee requested that the patient be transferred to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. HCW is located directly across the street from a hospital, so requesting transport to St. Louis would cause a significant delay in care.

This is not the first time HCW has requested that patients facing medical emergencies be transported to Barnes. Operation Rescue suggested that Barnes's status as a level 1 trauma care center with a surgeon on duty 24/7 may have something to do with the request. 

On March 29, an employee from HCW called 911 just before 4pm to request an ambulance for a 26-year-old woman with "more bleeding than we would like her to." HCW again requested that the patient be transported to Barnes. The 911 dispatcher followed up with several questions, but she complained and apologized to the HCW employee several times. The dispatcher described the "new system" as "a pain." The dispatcher asked whether the patient was conscious or on blood thinners before the recording ends.

Operation Rescue asked for the full recording of each call, but Granite City cut this particular recording short. Additionally, the city refused to provide dispatch reports for any of these emergencies. Operation Rescue is usually able to retrieve these reports from other cities.

On April 28, pro-life onlookers witnessed a patient on a gurney being wheeled into a private ambulance with RuralMed EMS. Operation Rescue pointed out that RuralMed is based in Farina, Illinois, a 1.5-hour drive from HCW. The clinic would have called the private ambulance company directly, so Operation Rescue is unlikely to find any 911 records related to this emergency.

“Of all the abortion clinics currently operating, this is certainly one of the most deplorable,” said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue. “We are working hard, doing all that is within our power, to close the doors of this death trap once and for all.”

Click here to read more.

Montana Gov. Signs Pro-Life Bills

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R)

On May 3, Montana Gov Greg Gianforte signed several pro-life bills into law. He promised to sign five more when they reach his desk.

The legislation signed by Gianforte includes:

• the Infant Care and Safety Act, which provides legal protections for children born alive during attempted abortions. The law reinforces protections for children born during attempted abortions by requiring medical professionals to provide the same level of care that would be provided to other children born at the same gestational age. This legislation protects abortion survivors from being left to die if they are born alive during attempted abortions.

• legislation prohibiting abortion after 24 weeks gestation. It contains an exception for instances when the mother's life is in danger.

• legislation requiring abortion businesses to report adverse events that occur during the use of abortion pills. The federal government only requires abortion businesses to report fatal adverse events.

• legislation reinforcing conscience protections for medical professionals. These protections make sure medical professionals have the right to refuse to perform abortions or prescribe certain kinds of drugs.

• legislation preventing state tax dollars from being used to fund elective abortions.

“This package of pro-family, pro-child, pro-life bills will make a lasting difference in Montana,” Gianforte said. “We couldn’t have done it alone, and I just want to thank the thousands of Montanans throughout the state who made their voices heard and made today possible.”

Click here to read more.

Danville, IL Passes Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance

photo credit: Mark Lee Dickson / Facebook

On the evening of May 2, the city council of Danville, Illinois voted 8-7 to approve a "sanctuary city for the unborn" ordinance. This makes Danville the 67th city in the US (and the first in Illinois) to approve such an ordinance.

Danville Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr. was the tie-breaking vote.

The new ordinance requires compliance with federal statutes known as the Comstock Act. These statutes prohibit the mailing or receiving of abortion-inducing drugs or abortion paraphernalia. The ordinance finds that the 1873 Comstock Act “imposes felony criminal liability on every person who ships or receives abortion pills or abortion-related paraphernalia in interstate or foreign commerce” and that all such acts are “offenses under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.”

Because abortion clinics don't manufacture their own drugs or equipment, this interpretation of the Comstock Act could effectively ban abortion in the United States. Clinics and manufacturers could be subject to criminal liability for mailing drugs and equipment intended to cause abortion.

Danville citizens pushed for the ordinance in response to the Indianapolis abortion business "Clinic for Women" purchasing property there. The business likely intends to flout pro-life Indiana laws by directing women across the Illinois border.

Before the meeting, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and the ACLU of Illinois sent letters to the city council arguing that the ordinance is unlawful under Illinois's 2019 Reproductive Health Act. Additionally, the Illinois Pharmacy Association attended the meeting to argue that the ordinance violates the Illinois Pharmacy Practice Act.

The ordinance argues that Illinois law cannot supersede federal law. Therefore, Illinois law cannot create a right for citizens to perform activities that are considered criminal under the Comstock Act.

Arguments by the Illinois Pharmacy Association caused several council members to fear that the ordinance would negatively impact the health of community members who might need mifepristone, misoprostol, or methotrexate to treat health conditions unrelated to pregnancy or abortion. These concerns were addressed after the meeting by Attorney Jonathan Mitchell.

“This ordinance does nothing to restrict the shipment or receipt of drugs that are used for non-abortion purposes,” Mitchell said. “It remains legal to ship and receive mifepristone and misoprostol if the intended use does not involve abortion.” 

Mitchell is credited as being one of the minds behind Texas's Heartbeat Act, and he has agreed to represent the city and its taxpayers at no cost if the ordinance causes the city to face litigation.

Click here to read more.

Kansas Legislators Override Pro-Abortion Governor's Vetoes

Three pro-life bills in Kansas were passed into law last week after legislators voted to override pro-abortion Gov. Laura Kelly's vetoes.

Kansas House Bill 2313, House Bill 2325, and House Bill 2264 will protect abortion survivors from medical neglect, prevent taxpayer dollars from supporting abortion, and require abortionists to inform women about abortion pill reversal.

House Bill 2313 requires medical professionals to treat children born alive after attempted abortions the same as any other children born at the same gestational age.

House Bill 2325 prohibits abortion businesses from buying liability insurance from a state fund.

House Bill 2264 requires abortion businesses to inform women about abortion pill reversal as part of the process for prescribing abortion pills. If a pregnant mother changes her mind after taking the abortion drug mifepristone, abortion pill reversal can save her child's life.

Click here to read more.

Vermont and Washington Pass Bills to Allow Mifepristone if FDA Approval Ends

Vermont and Washington state both passed bills that would legalize the distribution of mifepristone in those states, regardless of whether the drug is approved by the FDA.

On April 27, Vermont's House and Senate passed House Bill 89. The bill would legalize any abortion drugs approved by the FDA before Jan 1, 2023 (regardless of their current approval status), and characterize them as "reproductive health care services."

On the same day, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5768. The Washington law authorizes the Department of Corrections (DOC) to acquire and dispense mifepristone. The DOC would be empowered to sell these pills to abortion businesses.

The bills are a response to the ongoing legal challenge against the FDA's approval of the abortion pill. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which originates from a 20-year-old petition that the FDA did not respond to in the 180 days required. It alleges that the approval process didn't follow legal requirements and was based on faulty science.

Click here to read more.

ERA Revival Resolution Defeated Again in US Senate

On April 25, a measure claiming to revive the long-dead Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) by retroactively removing its ratification deadline failed in the Senate. While this may not have been the intent of its writers, the 1972 ERA is now interpreted by many to create a constitutional right to abortion. 

The Senate voted 51-47 in favor of the amendment, but 60 votes were required to end debate and bring the measure to a floor vote. Even if the resolution passed in the Senate, it was almost certainly doomed in the House.

The vote was mainly along party lines. Republicans Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Susan Collins (ME) sided with Democrats in favor of the resolution.

To ratify an amendment, it must be approved by three-quarters of the states. The ERA contained a ratification deadline of June 30, 1982, but several states decided to hold sham votes claiming to approve the amendment after this deadline. Between 2017 and 2020, the state legislatures of Illinois, Nevada, and Virginia voted to approve the amendment. These states then claimed that the two-thirds majority had been reached, and the amendment should be added to the US Constitution.

Judges appointed by Obama, Trump, and Biden have all ruled against the legality of such ratification efforts. The most recent ruling was in February by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The case was unanimously decided by a panel of judges appointed by all three presidents.

Additionally, six states have voted to rescind their ratifications. Five did so before the original ratification deadline, and North Dakota voted to do so in 2021.

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Des Plaines Abortion Clinic Waits Five Hours to Call 911 for Hemorrhaging Patient

American Women's Medical Center in Des Plaines, IL

911 records obtained by Operation Rescue revealed yet another medical emergency caused by American Women's Medical Center in Des Plaines, Illinois. On October 7, 2022, the facility waited five hours to call for an ambulance after an abortion caused a 30-year-old patient to hemorrhage.

This is the same abortion clinic that nearly killed a patient by overdosing her on Fentanyl two months ago.

In the October 7 emergency, a clinic employee called 911 shortly before 3pm to request an ambulance. She told the 911 dispatcher that the hemorrhaging patient started bleeding after having an abortion at 10am, nearly five hours earlier.

Hemorrhaging is a common complication of both surgical and drug-induced abortions. If left untreated, blood loss from hemorrhaging can result in death.

You can listen to a recording of the 911 call here.

When the dispatcher asked the employee if there was any medical staff with the patient, she responded, "She doesn't have any medical issue but, she is uh, her ninth pregnancy."

The dispatch report says that the first ambulance experienced a mechanical failure before it reached the patient. Emergency personnel had to dispatch a second ambulance before they could retrieve the bleeding patient.

“The odds seemed to have been stacked against this woman,” said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. “First, the abortionist delayed calling 911 for emergency medical assistance for five long hours as this woman lay there hemorrhaging – a condition that could be life-threatening. Then, the ambulance stalled on the way.

“We pray she survived the events of that terrible day and that the experience will open her eyes to the truth of what she has done – perhaps multiple times. May she call on God’s mercy and forgiveness and begin to live a life that honors Him.”

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Update on SB1909

Despite an overwhelming number of slips being filed in opposition to SB1909, the Illinois House Health Care Availability & Accessibility Committee on April 25 voted 5-3 to advance the anti-PRC bill for a vote before the full House of Representatives.

The committee vote was along party lines.

Pro-life advocates filed a total of 18,028 witness slips opposing the legislation. Only 3,927 people filed slips in support of the legislation.

Pro-life advocates should reach out to their representatives and urge them to oppose SB1909.

If you are unsure who your representative is, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website here and enter your address.

Known as the "Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act," SB1909 threatens legal action against PRCs that allegedly use "deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation, or the concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact" to persuade women against abortion or offer pregnancy-related services.

Pro-life groups take particular issue with the vague "omission of any material fact" language. "Material fact" is not defined by the bill. If a judge decides that information regarding where a pregnant mother can have an abortion constitutes a "material fact," then a PRC could be convicted for refusing to refer a mother to an abortion business.

Danville City Council Advances "Sanctuary City for the Unborn" Ordinance

On April 25, the Public Services Committee of the Danville, Illinois city council voted 3-1 to advance a "sanctuary city for the unborn" ordinance. A final vote in the full 14-member City Council is expected on May 2.

The proposed ordinance would require compliance with the 1873 Comstock Act. The Comstock Act is federal legislation that prohibits the transportation of "obscene" materials through the mail. The law specifically prohibits abortion-inducing drugs and abortion-related paraphernalia from being transported this way. While Griswold v Connecticut famously struck down a portion of this legislation by legalizing contraception for married couples, the law was never entirely struck down. Now, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, pro-life groups hope to use the Comstock Act to protect the unborn.

Some pundits argue that the Comstock Act could have a broader effect on the nationwide legality of abortion than many realize. “Every single abortion in the United States, surgical or medical, requires something that comes in the mail,” said University of California-Davis School of Law professor Mary Ziegler wrote for Slate. “Abortion providers don’t create their own medical devices or surgical instruments. They don’t make their own drugs. They get them from medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical distributors.” If manufacturers and distributors then transport these items in the mail, they could be subject to the Comstock Act.

Residents are determined to pass the sanctuary city ordinance after an Indiana abortion business purchased a property in Danville. The city's location near the state border makes it ideal for Indiana abortionists trying to circumvent pro-life state laws.

The Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative, a national organization working to help cities throughout the US enact such ordinances, met with residents several times last month to help educate the community on how the Comstock Act can be used in local ordinances.

Danville aldermen Ethan Burt, Eve Ludwig, and Robert Williams voted to advance the ordinance, while alderwoman Tricia Teague voted in opposition. Alderman Rick Stebing abstained, and the two remaining members of the Public Services Committee (aldermen Sherry Pickering and Darren York), were absent.

The day before the April 25 vote, the ACLU of Illinois sent a letter via email to the committee asking them to reject the ordinance. The ACLU made two arguments. The first is that the ordinance would violate Illinois's 2019 Reproductive Health Act. The second is that the Comstock Act is not applicable in Illinois.

The Comstock Act, as federal law, should override state law. If courts interpret the Comstock Act to broadly prohibit the transportation of abortion paraphernalia and find the law to be constitutional, then the ACLU's first argument falls moot. The US Supreme Court may issue a decision on this as Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (a pro-life challenge to the FDA's approval of the abortion drug mifepristone) advances through the courts.

The ACLU's second argument leans on a memo issued by Biden's Department of Justice last December. As an opinion written by an executive bureaucrat (not a judge), that memo does not create a judicial precedent. In that memo, Assistant Attorney General Christopher Schroeder argued that the Comstock Act does not do what it says. He argues that it only prohibits the transportation of abortion paraphernalia when the sender intends that the recipient will use it in violation of a separate law. This interpretation by the Biden administration is shaky, and it could easily be rejected by courts.

During the April 25 meeting, Danville Mayor Rickey Williams shared that Attorney Jonathan F. Mitchell has promised to represent Danville "at no cost to the city or its taxpayers" if the city faces a lawsuit stemming from the ordinance. Mitchell has argued five times before the US Supreme Court, and he is credited with being one of the minds behind Texas's groundbreaking Heartbeat Act.

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North Dakota Gov. Signs Law to Clear Up Language in "Trigger" and Heartbeat Laws

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R)

On April 24, North Dakota Gov Doug Burgum signed a bill designed to protect unborn children from abortion after the state supreme court struck down earlier pro-life laws.

North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Jon Jensen wrote in the majority decision last month, “While the regulation of abortion is within the authority of the legislature under the North Dakota Constitution, RRWC has demonstrated likely success on the merits that there is a fundamental right to an abortion in the limited instances of life-saving and health-preserving circumstances, and the statute is not narrowly tailored to satisfy strict scrutiny.”

The new legislation intends to clean up language in the state's "trigger" bill and heartbeat bill so that they will survive judicial scrutiny. Under the new standards, abortion would be prohibited at all gestational ages with exceptions for women facing "death or serious health risk." There is also an exception to allow abortion in cases of rape or incest during the first six weeks of gestation.

This bill clarifies and refines existing state law which was triggered into effect by the (U.S. Supreme Court) Dobbs decision and reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state,” Gov. Burgum said in a statement.

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Des Plaines Abortion Clinic Nearly Kills Patient by Fentanyl Overdose

American Women's Medical Center in Des Plaines, IL

On February 20, A 34-year-old patient nearly died after an abortion clinic in Des Plaines, Illinois overdosed the patient on Fentanyl and Versed.

The incident occurred at the American Women's Medical Center in Des Plaines. Chilling audio from a 911 call obtained by Operation Rescue captures the moment when the patient stopped breathing.

You can listen to a recording of the 911 call here.

The abortionist, Dr. Cheryl Chastine, spoke with the 911 operator on speaker phone to explain the situation. "Ok, I have a patient that I gave fentanyl and Versed [a generic name for the drug midazolam] to who is... we are trying to reverse those things right now. Respiratory status has been pretty questionable. She is actually coming around trying to breathe on her own."

Chastine went on to say that her oxygen levels were at 83%, a level that would eventually cause brain damage if not raised. She asked that the 911 operator stay on the line in case the situation worsened.

Shortly afterward, Chastine told the 911 operator that the patient stopped breathing, and she began administering rescue breaths.

Background chatter in the recording suggests that the clinic administered Narcan at this time. Narcan is a drug used to counteract the effects of Fentanyl after an overdose. Emergency personnel often carry Narcan to save drug addicts who overdose when taking Fentanyl recreationally. In this case, the overdose was caused by Chastine and the abortion clinic.

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Mississippi Gov Signs Group of Pro-Life Laws

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R)

Last week, Pro-Life Mississippi Gov Tate Reeves signed several pro-life laws designed to help support women and families seeking alternatives to abortion.

“Mississippi will always protect life. Our state will continue to be a beacon on the hill, a symbol of hope for the country, and a model for the nation,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “Mississippi will be relentless in its commitment to life. We will be relentless in our support of mothers and children. And we will be relentless in our efforts to advance the New Pro-life Agenda. The legislation I signed today is further proof that when it comes to protecting life, Mississippi isn’t just talking the talk – we’re walking the walk.”

The new laws help mothers and families in several ways:

House Bill 510 establishes a foster parents bill of rights. It is meant to provide transparency to foster parents about their rights and responsibilities.

House Bill 1670 expands the tax credit for pregnancy resource centers from $3.5 million to $10 million.

Senate Bill 2696 creates an income tax credit for qualified adoption expenses. The program offers $10,000 in tax credits for families who adopt children from Mississippi and $5,000 for families who adopt children from out of state.

House Bill 1318 increases the age that mothers can drop off their children in safe haven baby boxes.

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