In light of the landmark ruling last June, Carol Tobias of the National Right to Life Committee says she sees a “completely different playing field," because 50 U.S. states now have the legal right to ban abortion and protect the unborn within their state borders.
“We haven't had that occasion – that opportunity – for 50 years,” she says of abortion laws. “So I think we will start seeing people look at new ways to accomplish the goals of protecting babies and helping their moms.”
In the purplish state of Virginia, where Democrats and Republicans continue to battle for political power, abortion supporters in the Senate have vowed to block pro-life legislation in the chamber.
In spite of that, Olivia Turner of the Virginia Society for Human Life tells AFN pro-life Gov. Glenn Youngkin plans to introduce a bill to ban abortions if the unborn baby can feel pain. There are many other pro-life bills expected to be introduced during the legislative term, too.
“I don't know how far any of them will get,” Turner says, “but it's exciting to know that our pro-life legislators are willing to at least step up and begin the process.”
The abortion industry is busily lobbying its allies to defend the gruesome practice of killing the unborn, Tobias says, but she too is excited to witness pro-life lawmakers at work.
"And I know that pro-lifers in every state are looking at what they can do either legislatively, educationally, pro-actively, working with moms and babies," she says, "to do what we can to promote dignity and respect for all human life, born and unborn."
Back in Virginia, Turner says pro-life Virginians can help the cause in November because many state legislators will be up for re-election on the ballot.
