Change a City, Change a Nation

When it comes to the many internal debates of the pro-life movement—pass laws or build pregnancy centers? talk about contraception or talk about abstinence? work at the local level or the national level?—my attitude is usually:

Seems my philosophy has carried the day when it comes to the late-term abortion ban (a.k.a. the 20-week ban or Pain Capable Act). It started in the states (see page 11). Yesterday, a federal version was introduced in the Senate (it’s already been passed by the House of Representatives, which has a pro-life majority). And on November 19—less than two weeks away—the citizens of Albuquerque, New Mexico will vote on the first ever municipal ordinance banning abortion in the second half of pregnancy. In fact, early voting has already begun.

Why Albuquerque? Because it is home to Southwestern Women’s Options, one of the few abortion centers in the country that openly advertises abortion at any stage of pregnancy, even within weeks or days of birth.

Rather than throwing our hands in the air and deciding that a nationwide bill would never pass (effectively abandoning the children of solidly pro-abortion states like New York), we’re giving it a shot. And rather than focusing all our efforts on the federal level, to the detriment of children who could be protected more quickly by non-federal legislation, we’re working with states and even localities to end the scourge of late-term abortion as soon as possible.

The pro-life movement is playing offense at every level. Abortion’s defenders are right to be nervous.