The Life Support Movement refers to abortion as “murder.” So, you might expect that they would back a bill introduced by Republican Rep. Brent Money in Texas that criminalizes abortion, right? Well, surprisingly, it’s actually the activists from within the pro-life movement who halted this bill.
According to Abby Johnson, this legislation “essentially criminalizes abortion practice.” She notes that if anyone—be it a parent, boyfriend, or even a grandparent—causes the death of their child, they could be charged with murder.
“It makes sense to me,” Johnson states. “I think it resonates with most of the pro-life movement, and frankly, a lot of conservatives. Yet here we are, with the bill blocked in several states.”
Those states include Georgia, North Dakota, and Texas.
“In all these places, it’s not that they’re against the bill. Ironically, it’s the pro-life group that’s leading the opposition,” she adds.
The committee, steered by Rep. John Smithy and known for its conservative stance, was expected to support the bill. Johnson initially thought the proposal was a “slam dunk.” However, in a surprising twist, Smithy withdrew the bill just before it was set to be heard, stating, “This will not be discussed by the committee.”
Johnson explains that one of Texas’s largest pro-life groups pressured Smithy into this decision, suggesting, “It’s better not to present this bill in committee.”
As a result, what could have been a pivotal abortion-related bill in Texas effectively came to a halt due to internal strife within the pro-life movement.
