Big Spring: Sanctuary for the Unborn


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This report is part of a series. To read the first report on the fight in Big Spring, click here.

The City Council of Big Spring, Texas, has cast its second and final vote to outlaw abortion within its city limits. The vote on January 28th was four in favor, two against, with one absent. In taking this action the city of Big Spring became the 11th city in the nation to outlaw abortion, as well as the largest by far; the city has just under thirty-thousand residents.

The ordinance responsible for the decision prevents abortions from being performed either surgically or medically within the city limits. The ordinance states that “abortion at all times and at all stages of pregnancy is declared to be an act of murder with malice aforethought.” It continues by saying, “organizations that perform abortions and assist others in obtaining abortions are declared to be unlawful organizations.”

Leading the charge was Right to Life East Texas director Mark Lee Dickson, who gave a statement to CRIT-LARGE stating, “It was a moving night in Big Spring. This was the fourth city council meeting in Big Spring regarding this ordinance. We did not know how the night was going to go. In the end, the city council... made the God-honoring decision that no babies would be murdered by abortion in this city! If Planned Parenthood or any other abortion provider kills any unborn child in Big Spring… there will be consequences that they will have to face.”

Many have challenged the legality of the ordinance, but Dickson and others are convinced that the ordinances stand on solid legal ground: “We have heard from many that it is unconstitutional for cities to adopt these ordinances declaring abortion be outlawed. That word ‘unconstitutional’ gets thrown around a lot. Many out there must think that Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey actually say that abortion has to be allowed anywhere on American soil. Is this true? Let’s get real: We prohibit abortion all the time in America, and we can do so legally by the powers that are granted to us by our federal, state, and local governments.”

Dickson went on to say, “According to the Supreme Court, the only time abortion restrictions violate the Constitution is when an ‘undue burden’ is imposed on a woman seeking an abortion. Before the ordinance was passed, if a woman in Big Spring wanted to get an abortion, she would have had to go to El Paso, Dallas, Fort Worth, Waco, Austin, etc. Under the ordinance, the same condition exists—she must still go elsewhere because there is no existing provider in Big Spring. The Big Spring ordinance, just like the other Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn ordinances, survives the Supreme Court’s ‘undue burden’ test, and is something we believe would be fully upheld by the Supreme Court if these ordinances were ever challenged.”

Many residents of Big Spring were excited about the decision. Resident Debbie Stone shared her thoughts: “It is easy to take a stand when you face no opposition. But when you know that casting your vote may cost you something, your courage is needed. Thank you to Mayor Thomason and the council members who cast their votes in the last meeting! The results of their hours of prayer and deliberation pleased some and angered others. Our words are inadequate to thank them!”

With momentum growing, one cannot expect that Big Spring will be the last city that will outlaw abortion. Cities throughout East and West Texas are discussing and voting on similar ordinances this month.

For more information about the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative visit the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn website at www.sanctuarycitiesfortheunborn.com.

Continue to follow the Texas pro-life fight in our CRIT-LARGE series, Texas: Sanctuary for the Unborn.