Prolife Victories

Life and the Law

THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, Jan. 21 — The sharp decline in the number of abortions during the 1990s is largely the result of pro-life laws, according to a new study by the Heritage Foundation, a Washington think tank.

Data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the number of abortions fell from 1,035,573 in 1990 to 854,416 a decade later, a 17% drop.

While economic growth might have played a part in the development, Heritage analysts believe its prime source was the enactment of parental-involvement laws, partial-birth abortion bans and informed-consent mandates.

In 1992, few such laws existed. By 2000, 27 states had informed-consent laws on the books, 12 had banned or restricted partial-birth abortions and 32 were enforcing parental-involvement laws.

Abortion-Site Scrutiny

ROANOAKE TIMES, Jan. 29 — Virginia's House of Delegates passed a bill Jan. 28 that, if passed into law, would tighten regulation of abortion sites.

The legislation, which the House approved by a wide margin, would require such sites to adhere to the same health and safety standards as ambulatory surgery centers. It would require more frequent state inspections, bringing more accountability to the sites.

The bill's opponents say it would be costly and, according to one pro-abortion lobbyist, “Virginia could become the state where abortion will continue to be legal but will be almost unavailable.”

The bill now advances to the state's Senate Education and Health Committee, which narrowly defeated a similar measure last year.

Survivors Speak

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Jan. 28 — Young pro-lifers caused a stir when they rallied against abortion in front of a middle school in Rocklin, Calif., Jan. 27.

The youths, some as young as 11, handed out pamphlets and carried posters as students arrived for school. The event was sponsored by Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, a Southern California group that helps youth spread the pro-life message to young people.

While some parents complained about the protest, the news service reported, school officials said they could not stop the protest as long as entrance to the school isn't blocked.

Guarding the Unborn

SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL, Jan. 27 — Florida Gov. Jeb Bush wants to appoint legal guardians to speak for the fetuses of women who, because of disabilities, cannot make health decisions for themselves or their unborn babies.

Pro-lifers strongly support such legislation, as it would assign “personhood” to the fetus, the newspaper reported.

Bush's motion, announced Jan. 27, comes several months after an appellate court ruled that the unborn baby of a mentally retarded 23-year-old rape victim was not entitled to a guardian. The governor said he was disappointed with the decision.