Did you hear that a Columbus woman was forced, at gunpoint, to an abortion facility?
It has made national headlines.
Did you know that a recently passed law protects women from forced abortions?
Abortion facilities must tell women no one can force them to have an abortion.
Did you know that Greater Columbus Right to Life was instrumental to passing this law?
Read on to find out more . . .
Not a boyfriend, not a husband, not a parent – NO ONE.
We are all reeling in the aftermath of a story that has made national headlines. Last week a Columbus man tried to force his girlfriend to have an abortion. He threatened her, saying he would shoot her to bring about a miscarriage if she would not have an abortion. He then drove her, at gunpoint, to an abortion facility on Broad Street in Columbus in an effort to force her to have the abortion.
According to news reports, the woman passed a note to an employee of the abortion facility that she was being coerced into having the abortion. Fortunately, the employee called the police, who arrested the man in the parking lot. At this time, he has been charged with illegally carrying a weapon and kidnapping.
This situation is repugnant on many levels. I was speechless when I heard the story, and I stopped what I was doing to offer up my prayers: First a prayer of thanksgiving that two lives were spared and then a prayer that this woman and her baby come to no further harm – from her kidnapper/boyfriend or from anyone else.
Both sides of the abortion debate have been quick to point out that the situation was horrific. Pro-choice organizations have praised the abortion worker for protecting, not the child, but the “choice” of the woman. NARAL Ohio has been quoted as saying, “we want women to make their own decisions – not a boyfriend’s, not a government.” The pro-life community has responded by pointing out that women who have abortions are almost never there because they have a “choice” – but because they think that they do not have any other choice. Maybe they do not have the support from friends or family, maybe they lack independence or income, or perhaps they fear being ostracized. In so many cases, those are enough to make a woman “choose” abortion. This young woman, whom I’ve never met, chose life for her baby, and she did it at gunpoint. That is the power of a mother’s love.
What a story. I am sure that it will continue to make headlines and I will be watching this case as it progresses through the court system.
I would like to talk about one detail that no one has, to my knowledge, reported on or identified thus far.
It has made national headlines.
Did you know that a recently passed law protects women from forced abortions?
Abortion facilities must tell women no one can force them to have an abortion.
Did you know that Greater Columbus Right to Life was instrumental to passing this law?
Read on to find out more . . .
Not a boyfriend, not a husband, not a parent – NO ONE.
We are all reeling in the aftermath of a story that has made national headlines. Last week a Columbus man tried to force his girlfriend to have an abortion. He threatened her, saying he would shoot her to bring about a miscarriage if she would not have an abortion. He then drove her, at gunpoint, to an abortion facility on Broad Street in Columbus in an effort to force her to have the abortion.
According to news reports, the woman passed a note to an employee of the abortion facility that she was being coerced into having the abortion. Fortunately, the employee called the police, who arrested the man in the parking lot. At this time, he has been charged with illegally carrying a weapon and kidnapping.
This situation is repugnant on many levels. I was speechless when I heard the story, and I stopped what I was doing to offer up my prayers: First a prayer of thanksgiving that two lives were spared and then a prayer that this woman and her baby come to no further harm – from her kidnapper/boyfriend or from anyone else.
Both sides of the abortion debate have been quick to point out that the situation was horrific. Pro-choice organizations have praised the abortion worker for protecting, not the child, but the “choice” of the woman. NARAL Ohio has been quoted as saying, “we want women to make their own decisions – not a boyfriend’s, not a government.” The pro-life community has responded by pointing out that women who have abortions are almost never there because they have a “choice” – but because they think that they do not have any other choice. Maybe they do not have the support from friends or family, maybe they lack independence or income, or perhaps they fear being ostracized. In so many cases, those are enough to make a woman “choose” abortion. This young woman, whom I’ve never met, chose life for her baby, and she did it at gunpoint. That is the power of a mother’s love.
What a story. I am sure that it will continue to make headlines and I will be watching this case as it progresses through the court system.
I would like to talk about one detail that no one has, to my knowledge, reported on or identified thus far.
A recently passed law protects women from coerced abortions. The bill requires any facility where an abortion is conducted to post a sign telling women that no one can force them to have an abortion. Under the terms of the law, which was effective in early 2009, it is illegal to perform an abortion if this sign is not posted. Penalties for violating the requirement can include revocation of medical license for those working in the facility.
HB 280 contained a number of provisions that protect innocent human life. As introduced, the bill only required the "no coercion" provisions mentioned above, but the bill was ultimately amended in the Ohio Senate to include protections for people who are victims of human trafficking and to include protections for children who are victims of crime (including rape) to ensure that laws meant to protect the privacy of minor victims are not used to prevent prosecutors from establishing patterns of abuse or to keep victims from receiving compensation under Ohio's civil justice system.
Passing this law was a victory for pro-life advocates throughout our state. Did you know that Greater Columbus Right to Life was instrumental in getting it passed? Former Board President Jason Shanks testified before the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on the need to pass this law.
This is just one example of the good work that Greater Columbus Right to Life does, work that we cannot do without your financial support.
We work to help people know that there is another option, we work to support the passage of laws that protect women from being compelled to have an abortion, we work to change the hearts and minds of the citizens of our community so that they will see, and respect, the value of every innocent human life.
In honor of HB 280 and the right that every woman has to be free of coerced abortion, I am calling on 280 individuals in the Greater Columbus community to make a $40 tax-deductible donation to Greater Columbus Right to Life, today.
Why $40?
It is one dollar for every week a baby deserves protection in his/her mother’s womb, so we can help more women to understand that no one can force them to have an abortion. Not a boyfriend, not a husband, not a parent – NO ONE.
It is one dollar for every day in the Fall 40 Days for Life campaign – 40 days of peaceful, prayerful presence at an abortion facility in our community.
Thank you for yoru continuing support of Greater Columbus Right to Life.
Always for Life,
HB 280 contained a number of provisions that protect innocent human life. As introduced, the bill only required the "no coercion" provisions mentioned above, but the bill was ultimately amended in the Ohio Senate to include protections for people who are victims of human trafficking and to include protections for children who are victims of crime (including rape) to ensure that laws meant to protect the privacy of minor victims are not used to prevent prosecutors from establishing patterns of abuse or to keep victims from receiving compensation under Ohio's civil justice system.
Passing this law was a victory for pro-life advocates throughout our state. Did you know that Greater Columbus Right to Life was instrumental in getting it passed? Former Board President Jason Shanks testified before the Senate Criminal Justice Committee on the need to pass this law.
This is just one example of the good work that Greater Columbus Right to Life does, work that we cannot do without your financial support.
We work to help people know that there is another option, we work to support the passage of laws that protect women from being compelled to have an abortion, we work to change the hearts and minds of the citizens of our community so that they will see, and respect, the value of every innocent human life.
In honor of HB 280 and the right that every woman has to be free of coerced abortion, I am calling on 280 individuals in the Greater Columbus community to make a $40 tax-deductible donation to Greater Columbus Right to Life, today.
Why $40?
It is one dollar for every week a baby deserves protection in his/her mother’s womb, so we can help more women to understand that no one can force them to have an abortion. Not a boyfriend, not a husband, not a parent – NO ONE.
It is one dollar for every day in the Fall 40 Days for Life campaign – 40 days of peaceful, prayerful presence at an abortion facility in our community.
Thank you for yoru continuing support of Greater Columbus Right to Life.
Always for Life,
Ruth
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