The Pro-Life Movement’s Challenges After Dobbs Decision

It’s been four years since the Dobbs ruling, which marked a major win for the pro-life movement. However, despite this victory, abortion remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., and countless vulnerable individuals still lack fundamental human rights.

The ruling indicated that representatives at every governmental level could enact laws to safeguard unborn children, including those at the national level. Since then, half of the states have passed pro-life legislation. Yet, the surprising reality is that abortion rates are climbing instead of declining. Approaches that focus solely on state-level actions seem to be falling short. We risk neglecting unborn children living in blue states, where their rights are treated as less urgent.

It’s crucial that we provide equal protection and the right to life for all Americans, regardless of their location. As we near America’s 250th anniversary, it’s time for both the pro-life movement and the Republican Party to step up their game and advocate for national leadership on this issue.

Implementing national minimum standards—like establishing the detectable heartbeat of a fetus or recognizing when a fetus can feel pain—wouldn’t undermine stronger state laws. Instead, it could create a baseline applicable nationwide, including in blue states, while allowing pro-life regions to enforce even stricter protections.

On the other hand, Democrats have essentially made unrestricted abortion their default stance. However, polling suggests that this viewpoint isn’t widely supported. A mere 10% of voters are in favor of permitting abortion up until the moment of birth. Only 15 states currently permit abortion at any stage of pregnancy, which puts the U.S. among a select few countries with similarly permissive laws.

This worries me—it’s not just speculation. Abortions during the second and third trimesters occur in blue states, with viable fetuses capable of feeling pain being terminated.

In Washington, D.C., the remains of five full-term infants were discovered in a medical waste bin at an abortion facility. Known as the “D.C. Five,” these cases highlight the darker side of late-term abortions. Some clinics, like the DuPont Clinic in D.C. and others in states like Colorado and Illinois, advertise such procedures openly.

Family planning organizations also perform late-term abortions, which can have deadly consequences for women. For instance, an 18-year-old girl from Colorado tragically died after a late-term abortion at a family planning facility. Reports indicate that Planned Parenthood in Fort Collins specifically asked that no ambulance be called immediately following the procedure.

The opposition has a clear national agenda, and if Democrats gain power, they are likely to push through a bill known as the Women’s Health Protection Act. This legislation would effectively nullify state-level pro-life laws and could lead to unrestricted abortion across all 50 states. Almost all elected Democrats in Congress have expressed support for this bill, while party leaders aim to eliminate the filibuster to ensure its passage.

A state-by-state approach isn’t enough anymore. Throughout American history, no significant human rights advancement has come through such means. Republicans must focus on national efforts to promote pro-life legislation.

The initial step should be to elect leaders who believe unborn children deserve protection, regardless of where they reside. These officials need to commit to changing the narrative around late-term abortions. The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group is allocating $160 million to support pro-life candidates in the upcoming elections.

Post-midterms, the pro-life movement must unite behind a presidential candidate ready to champion the cause of mothers and unborn children. Leadership must align with public sentiment and strive for comprehensive national protections for life.

As we commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, let’s remember that foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution facilitated significant human rights victories, such as abolishing slavery and securing women’s suffrage. With around 1.1 million Americans losing their lives each year to abortion, it’s time to tackle what many view as the greatest human rights violation of our era.

We truly need to extend equal protection and the right to life to all Americans in every state, no matter how small.