Pro-life advocates in Colorado are organizing a ballot campaign to ban late-term abortions on viable unborn babies in their state.
Colorado law does not limit abortions in any way. Unborn babies may be aborted for any reason up to birth, and Warren Hern, one of the few openly practicing late-term abortionists in the U.S., does.
The Denver Post reports pro-life advocates are working on ballot proposals that would allow Colorado voters to decide whether the law should protect unborn babies from abortion after they are viable.
The proposal would ban abortions after 22 weeks in Colorado with exceptions for risks to the mother’s life. Penalties would include class 3 felony charges and a medical license suspension for violations.
The Coalition for Women and Children is collecting signatures for the initiative, Due Date Too Late. The Catholic News Agency reports pro-lifers need about 125,000 signatures within the next six months to qualify for the ballot in November 2020.
Keri Ebel, a volunteer with the coalition, said she would like to see every unborn baby’s life protected, not just after 22 weeks.
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However, Colorado is very liberal politically, and pro-life advocates have had a difficult time passing even moderate abortion regulations in the state. A 22-week abortion limit could gain the support of moderates who do not think abortions should be outlawed but do support modest restrictions. Polls consistently show that most Americans oppose late-term abortions after the baby is viable.
CNA reports more:
The ballot initiative filing cites “substantial medical evidence that an unborn child is capable of experiencing pain by 22 weeks gestation,” noting that a child of this age will react to painful stimuli by recoiling or swimming away.
It also notes that with the help of modern science, babies born at 22 weeks gestation have been able to survive. “The state of Colorado and the people of Colorado have a compelling state interest in protecting the lives of children who feel pain and who can survive outside the womb,” it says.
The initiative still is in its early stages, and language for the proposal still must be approved by the Colorado Secretary of State, according to the report.
Colorado is a destination spot for late-term abortions because most states limit abortions after unborn babies are viable. Women travel from all across the country to Hern’s abortion business and spend tens of thousands of dollars to have their late-term unborn babies aborted.
Planned Parenthood may be trying to cash in on the state’s liberal abortion laws as well.
According to The Denver Post: “… Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is considering expanding both its numbers of Colorado clinics and abortion services to those seeking the procedure later in pregnancy. The nonprofit told The Denver Post earlier this month that there has been a steady increase in women traveling from other states for abortions.”
If the ballot measure passes, it could protect thousands of viable, late-term unborn babies from abortion.
In 2015, there were 5,597 abortions after 21 weeks of pregnancy in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control. However, the number almost certainly is higher. The CDC report includes only 39 states that reported gestational ages.
Abortion lobbyists admit that most late-term abortions are done on healthy mothers carrying healthy babies. Guttmacher Institute statistics also confirm that “most women seeking later terminations are not doing so for reasons of fetal anomaly or life endangerment.”
Pro-life advocates said the 22-week limit is a “common sense” measure that will put Colorado laws in line with the rest of the country. To volunteer or learn more, visit DueDateTooLate.com.
