On this day 38 years ago, the Supreme Court decided the fateful Roe vs. Wade which has led to the death of 53 million innocent, unborn babies. While we mourn this tragic loss of life, we look forward to the day when all human life is considered sacred.
A new day is dawning. The baby boomers’ focus was on women’s rights; the millennials (young adults under 30) are more focused on the morality of killing an unborn baby. For the first time since 1973, more young people are pro-life and more likely to vote their values. According to survey conducted by the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL), 51 percent of young, pro-life voters consider abortion a “very important” voting issue; only 26 percent of abortion-rights young people consider it “very important.” As the result of these young voters, our federal and state legislatures are changing.
Thirty years ago, the National Democratic Party began supporting abortion rights. In 2008, the Party supported an extraordinary number of pro-life candidates. Today, there is a majority of pro-life Congressmen, such as Dan Lipinski, a Democrat from Illinois, who is co-chairing the Pro-Life Caucus. These pro-life Congressmen are now busy rolling back tax-payer funded abortion; the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” would ensure that no taxpayer money goes to funding abortion, and the “Protect Life Act” targets abortion funding through ObamaCare.
Maine is no exception in this trend. Four years after the Maine Legislature defeated tax-payer funded abortions, several bills are making their way through the Maine Legislature which will protect and empower women to make informed choices.
Eleanor Espling (R-New Gloucester) is sponsoring an informed choice bill that would require doctors to provide women with the risks of abortion and a list of alternatives. LD 116, sponsored by Rep. Tyler Clark (R-Easton), would require a 24-hour waiting period before a woman could obtain an abortion. A bill sponsored by Dale Crafts (R-Lisbon) would strengthen parental consent laws for a minor to obtain an abortion. Concerned Women for America of Maine applauds the dedication of these legislators to protect the health of women and the life of the unborn. Today as we grieve, we have reason to hope for a better day in the lives of women and unborn children. Sincerely, Charla Bansley State Director