I am immensely proud of my newly adopted state of Alabama for how it is holding the line on protecting the unborn and keeping the focus on creating a culture of life.
Following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision overturning Roe v. Wade, some misguided Republicans, namely South Carolina Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, floated the possibility of a nationwide ban on abortion. Leave it to some Republicans to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. This would do nothing but reverse the hard work already done in states like Alabama that uphold life, and it would be the antithesis of promoting life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Having followed the pro-life cause for decades, the fact that I was able to see Roe overturned in my lifetime is a glorious thing. Before that day in June 2022, pro-life advocates realized that the way to limit death and promote a culture of life was through education and pregnancy resources to women considering abortions – and through changing state laws.
In 2019, Alabama led the way by passing the Human Life Protection Act, the nation’s first trigger law in anticipation of Roe’s reversal. Now elective abortions are illegal in our state, saving countless lives. However, like certain factions trying to undo what years of pro-life advocacy and Dobbs accomplished, leftists within the state (and without) are also seeking to undermine the pro-life legacy established here.
Fortunately, we have Attorney General Steve Marshall holding the line for life and for Alabama’s laws. Marshall helped draft and pass the Brody Act, making it a crime to kill or injure an unborn child. Marshall was the first prosecutor to secure a death sentence under that very act, and as Alabama’s Attorney General, successfully defended that conviction before the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS). Marshall practices what he preaches, seeking to uphold laws that protect the unborn.
“The issue of abortion now returns to the States,” Marshall said after SCOTUS overturned Roe — and the State of Alabama has unequivocally elected to be a protector of unborn life.”
Despite spurious lawsuits, Marshall has upheld his statement, including prosecuting any person or organization that would aid and abet a woman crossing state lines to obtain an abortion. Last July, parties – including the advocacy organization Yellowhammer Fund – filed lawsuits against the state, saying this move violated constitutional rights such as participating in travel. Marshall filed a Motion to Dismiss on Aug. 28, taking California’s rabidly pro-abortion Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to task for butting his nose in where it does not belong. Newsom is good at that, but Marshall would have none of it.
We aren’t asking for your permission, @GavinNewsom. Alabama will not permit abortionists to defy our laws and enrich themselves by marketing hopelessness to women. https://t.co/sxUmL8JFmd
— Attorney General Steve Marshall (@AGSteveMarshall) August 31, 2023
Auburn University’s own former coach, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, is also doing his part to see that life is upheld and death is diminished. Tuberville honors the SCOTUS ruling to return the life decision back to the states and is using his powers on the Senate Armed Services Committee to call out the military spending taxpayer dollars to facilitate abortion tourism. As 1819 News recently reported:
"U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) has been under constant fire for his continued holds on military confirmations over the Department of Defense’s (DOD) rule on funding certain costs for out-of-state abortions for service members and their dependents.
In October 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin sent a memo decrying the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
The memo directed DOD officials to "ensure that service members and their families can access reproductive health care and to support Department of Defense health care providers concerned about potential risks while providing federally authorized care."
The VA released its rule in September 2022 and said it would begin offering abortions to service members and certain dependents, regardless of the individual state's law.
Tuberville has refused to confirm the military appointees since December 2022."
Tuberville has chosen to block these appointees in an effort to force President Joe Biden to back off funding abortions with federal dollars — something that the Dobbs decision should have rendered moot.
The Democrat-controlled Senate could approve the nominees one at a time, rather than in a slate. Instead, they are trying to make an example of Tuberville, claiming he is affecting military readiness and aiding and abetting our enemies.
Like Marshall, Tuberville is firm in his stance, taking this criticism in stride:
"It just goes to show you that this is all propaganda that’s been carried on by the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States saying, ‘Y’all got to start putting pressure on this Senator.’ They don’t know what pressure is, okay? I don’t feel any pressure at all.”
Because of Tuberville’s stand for pro-life values, the Students for Life Action organization is presenting him with a Champion of Life Award. Bravo! It is well-deserved, for Tuberville’s stance for life is a stinging rebuke to the culture of death promoted by the Biden administration.
Instead of joining the chorus of Republicans spouting about a national abortion ban or trying to force a “national” conversation as former U.N. ambassador and current presidential candidate Nikki Haley demands, Tuberville and Marshall are upholding the rule of law and federalism as intended. They are setting an example that other states seeking to uphold life can follow.
Jennifer Oliver O'Connell, As the Girl Turns, is an investigative journalist, author, opinion analyst, and contributor to 1819 News, Redstate, and other publications. Jennifer writes on Politics and Pop Culture, with occasional detours into Reinvention, Yoga, and Food. You can read more about Jennifer's world at her As the Girl Turns website. You can also follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819news.com.
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