In a recent 1819 News opinion article, legislation that I filed – and legislation similar to that in other states – seeking to protect the pre-born by recognizing their personhood from conception to natural death was described as that which would “simultaneously strip protections from women who are being trafficked or are the victims of rape or incest.”
This is not only inaccurate, but in my opinion, fails to see why the pro-life movement was rejected in Roe v. Wade and has largely failed while babies continue to be aborted, even in Alabama, through chemical abortifacients. Let’s set the record straight.
My legislation would grant all Alabama’s pre-born babies the same equal protection and due process that our born babies receive. Alabama homicide laws give no protection to pre-born babies if the person taking the baby’s life is the mother. But Alabama’s pre-born babies are persons and deserve the same chance at life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that born babies receive.
However, my legislation also extends protections to women that are currently unavailable to them, precisely because it recognizes life and personhood at every stage. My “Prenatal Equal Protection Act” not only protects the mother in all cases of the child’s natural death (miscarriage, etc.), it does two other important things: gives the mother immunity if she seeks an abortion under threat, duress, or pressure; holds responsible those who pressure the mother to seek an abortion – both for pressuring her and the abortion if she goes through with it. My legislation also provides common-sense protections for the mother and doctor in the event of situations like ectopic pregnancies.
The only way to stop the endless machinations of evil people constantly promoting a culture of murdering our babies is to legally acknowledge what we already know to be true: a person is a person, no matter how small.
Does this mean that mothers cannot intentionally, willfully and purposefully destroy the lives of their pre-born children? Yes, just like a mother cannot drown a baby one day after birth. But it also means that women would have protections from being pressured to get an abortion that they currently are exposed to without remedy, precisely because the baby’s personhood is not acknowledged by our homicide laws. It also puts the full weight of the evil actions of rape, incest and trafficking on perpetrators where they belong. These perpetrators would have to cover up multiple crimes – the act itself, the pressure on the mother to kill the child, and the actual killing of the child, all while the mother is protected. Asserting life at every point in the value chain and holding consistently to our foundational principles feeds pressure back up the system, creating the most hostile environment possible for criminals and perverts, while simultaneously creating the most welcoming and secure environment for law-abiding citizens from the very beginning of life until God calls us home.
The First Principles Behind This Law
It’s an exciting time to be an American. As Dr. George Grant so aptly said in the title of his masterful book, “An Experiment in Liberty: America’s Path to Independence,” the American experiment in liberty is a gracious and providential reminder that God still governs in the affairs of men. His hand is working in history, writing a masterpiece of redemption, renewal and hope for His highest creation, mankind. We have the benefit of acting as agents to accomplish these gracious purposes for His glory and the true good of mankind, a kind of manifest destiny thrilling our hearts and minds as we participate in the battle for beauty, goodness and truth.
This cultural battle transcends political party lines, touching us at the core of who we are as creatures made in God’s image. Life, liberty, faith and family are issues that should speak to our hearts, motivating us to action. These issues are the “fundamental currency” that all Americans – all mankind – should support.
The pro-life movement is an issue that ought to be a core unifying principle. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all are created equal, endowed by their Creator with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That all human life is due equal protection, and that no human can be robbed of life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness without due cause and due process.
Being “pro-life” – standing for a culture of life – is essentially tied to placing a high value on the inherent worth of human life at every developmental stage regardless of geographical location or viability (young or old), the dignity and value of the family, and the love and companionship of human relationships. The fact that we are image bearers – creatures made in the image of God – places us in a uniquely precious position as stewards and custodians of creation.
In America, the Bible has historically informed us of what this means. We believe in the Golden Rule, the sanctity of property, the value of social engagement, and the importance of the nuclear family precisely because we value life in a uniquely God-oriented way.
As cultural decay and cultural renewal increasingly battle for the soul of America and Western civilization, we are confronted with this basic fact: the pro-life movement has grown increasingly politicized because we have forgotten the origins of this battle and have not waged a principally consistent fight with our messaging. Interestingly, the judges in Roe v. Wade dismissed the argument of life as a viable argument precisely because Texas did not extend personhood to babies and was inconsistent in protecting them from all destruction of life. The pro-life movement’s refusal to acknowledge personhood directly led to judges rejecting the pro-life movement and exclusively focusing on women’s rights in Roe. Courage or cowardice has consequences in the real world.
It's also interesting to consider the racist and eugenic origins of the abortion industry, chronicled in another great book by Dr. George Grant entitled “Killer Angel: A Biography of Planned Parenthood’s Margaret Sanger.” The cultural manifesto of America’s Christian history, as reflected in mercy ministries, hospitals, education, and family values, stands in stark contrast.
This should not be an esoteric argument for the political motivation of a certain block of voters that is ignored or jettisoned when it becomes politically inconvenient. As Richard Weaver noted, ideas do have consequences.
If the foundations are destroyed, what can we do? We can learn to build again with first principles a culture of life, liberty, faith and family that will redound to God’s glory and the true flourishing of all our citizens.
HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF FIRST PRINCIPLES
G. K. Chesterton aptly noted:
Tradition means giving a vote to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our groom; tradition asks us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our father.
If there is anything our founding fathers taught us, it is that true freedom and flourishing come from a renewed and hearty commitment to core principles. We must have the courage to walk them out.
There are undoubtedly many places in life and politics where compromising is a sign of maturity. But the ability to move the furniture around, change the color, and work together in the “house of life” assumes the house has a foundation. First principles – those “10 Commandment” type issues – give us a foundation upon which compromise and collaboration are possible. Without the foundation, everything crumbles and we simply push rubbish and ruins around in a postmodern rearrangement of cultural destruction.
GENERATIONAL RENEWAL THROUGH CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION
We are at a crossroads today in America and the West. “Choose you this day who you will serve” has never been clearer in my lifetime – perhaps since the early 20th century.
Our heritage in Alabama – “We Dare Defend Our Rights” – and in America – “Our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor” – beckon us to answer the call. Law is one important way we help renew today’s generation and drive cultural transformation because law is pedagogical by nature – it teaches and encourages action by its very precept.
America rejected the idea that our black brothers and sisters were three-fifths of a person. We did the right thing, acknowledging their full personhood in the law. Their legal status launched cultural transformation and multi-generational renewal of God-honoring relationships. Did it remove all racism overnight? Of course not. But it has greatly helped.
Enshrining in our laws what is already granted by God and acknowledged in our State and Federal Constitutions is an integral part of a greater battle to ensure that life, children, the nuclear family, faith in God, and our cherished freedoms are preserved and thriving for the generations to come.
State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough serves in Alabama's Seventh District.
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 [email protected].
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