Citizens recently voted in favor of anti-abortion ordinances
Localities in Texas are voting to declare themselves “sanctuary cities for the unborn,” in a new movement that aims to ban abortion, according to reports.
Pro-life citizens are registering their communities’ disapproval of abortion and intention to outlaw it once they are allowed to do so.
Starting last June with the city of Waskom, a total of eight cities have now declared themselves “sanctuary cities for the unborn.”
Big Spring, Colorado City, and Rusk all voted for the ordinances in January, the Texas Tribune reported.
In addition to the declarations on abortion, the measures empower families of post-abortive women the ability to sue abortionists for emotional distress.
The Colorado City version would also prohibit the sale of the contraceptive Plan B, which can also function as an abortifacient.
“To say we can’t ban abortion is simply not true,” Right to Life of East Texas director Mark Lee Dixon told Fox News.
Dixon has been traveling across Texas to advocate the ordinances, with “every intention of targeting every part of the state.”
“We’re passing laws because resolutions do not prevent abortion clinics from coming into cities, but ordinances, a law put in place, will,” he said.
“This is a strong stance that babies will not be murdered in our cities. We need to stand up with our leaders in bringing this Holocaust to an end once and for all.”
“We are preparing our cities for the overturning of Roe [v. Wade],” Dickson explained.
“But at the same time, it’s completely right to say abortion is outlawed in these cities.”
Previous Texas towns to adopt “sanctuary for the unborn” ordinances include Waskom, Naples, Joaquin, Tenaha, and Gilmer.
Fox noted that Mineral Wells, Omaha, and Jacksboro ultimately rejected them due to legal fears.
Abortion rights advocates argue the ordinances are dangerous and misleading to the public.
“This extreme proposal is a tactic for abortion opponents to score political points and mislead Texans about their rights,” Kamyon Conner, executive director of the Texas Equal Access Fund, told the Texas Tribune.
“Access to reproductive care and abortion allows individuals and families to receive the support needed to thrive in our state.”
But Dickson says there are immediate consequences to the ordinances regardless of whether or not Roe gets overturned.
Dickson argues that cities ban “legal” things all the time – from straws to smoking – in reference to Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, both of which would have to be overturned by the Supreme Court in order for the ordinance to take full effect.
Until then, however, Dickson said family members can sue an abortionist or anyone who aides an abortion within city limits, but no action can be taken against the mother herself.