Although the Texas late-term abortion bill captured the spotlight this week, North Dakota also faced challenges to abortion legislation on Tuesday. In March, Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed three pro-life bills that require abortion “doctors” to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals; ban abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat; and ban abortion for the purpose of gender selection or genetic abnormalities. On Tuesday, the Red River Women’s Clinic, North Dakota’s last remaining abortion provider, filed a federal challenge to the latter legislation.
Abortion supporters claim that these bills violate the U.S. Constitution as interpreted in Roe v. Wade. However, Senator Margaret Sitte has a different take. “Roe v. Wade was written before we had sonogram technology, before we knew what we do know now about life,” Sitte said. In order to truly uphold constitutional principles—especially the most basic right to life—we must embrace scientific advancements and evaluate Roe v. Wade accordingly. America’s founding is based on the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—rights that the Constitution guarantees in the Fifth Amendment to all persons. The Equal Protection Clause reiterates that these rights must be provided in a non-discriminatory manner. As Americans United for Life President Charmaine Yoest pointed out,
“A civil society does not discriminate against people – born and unborn – for their sex or for disability. We should be celebrating diversity, not destroying it. Women in particular have been targeted for death in the womb, and we’ve also seen dramatic abortion rates for children with disabilities which put them at risk for extinction. Gov. Jack Dalrymple, Rep. Bette Grande and the legislators in North Dakota have shown courageous humanity in passing this legislation.”
Rep. Bette Grande (R-ND), a fearless leader of the National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus, sponsored both bills being challenged. However, her comprehensive, fact-based research is no match for pro-abortion lies. “They said they were going to have a lawsuit the whole time, there’s nothing new there, but it still comes down to the fact we have people like Gosnell out there and no checks and balance in the abortion industry,” said Grande. When asked about her lifesaving and unprecedented legislation, Grande humbly responded, ”It’s a good day for babies.”
North Dakota’s bills—and similar proposals nationwide—utilize modern technology and data to guarantee this equal right to life in the United States. Recently, a number of pro-life women highlighted the urgent need to coincide substantiated facts with rule of law by spearheading efforts to pass HR 1797. This bill wholly relies on physicians’ testimonies and scientific evidence—like ultrasounds showing unborn babies reacting to external stimuli—that unborn children feel excruciating pain during late-term abortions.
As for now, North Dakota’s pro-life laws are scheduled to take effect August 1, 2013. The Susan B. Anthony List applauds Rep. Grande’s work, and supports her future efforts to promote a culture of life.
The SBA Pro-Life America National Pro-life Scorecard is a tool that helps hold members of Congress accountable for their legislative records on life and that highlights leadership in the fight to serve women and save babies.
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