52 Years of Progress Erased By the Stroke of a Pen

By Bud Shaver

Albuquerque, New Mexico- For 52 years New Mexico had one of the nation's strongest pro-life pieces of legislation on its books prohibiting abortions, the Criminal Abortion Statute, was passed by the New Mexico legislature in 1969. The 1969 Criminal Abortion Statute made performing an abortion a 4th degree felony! In addition, the statute also prohibited non-physicians from performing surgical abortions and according to the law it explicitly,

"requires that an [non-elective] abortion be performed [only after a panel of physicians deemed that the pregnancy put the woman's life at risk and only at an accredited hospital] only with the woman's consent." (emphasis added)

These profoundly pro-woman provisions of its time were no doubt debated at length and determined to be in the best interest of New Mexico women.

The legislature, at that time, recognized the criminality of physicians performing a procedure that takes the life of another human, was worthy of a felony charge and that precautions needed to be taken by the New Mexico legislature to ensure that the lives of New Mexico babies in the womb were valued in an equal measure as that of New Mexico women.

Unfortunately, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) announced today, February 26, 2021 that she signed S.B. 10 "Repeal Abortion Ban" which strips the 1969 Criminal Abortion Statute off the books.

"With the stroke of a pen, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham just erased 52 years of progress and protections for New Mexico women and pre-born children. The New Mexico legislature erased decades of debate and technological advancements that scientifically prove and protect the humanity of the baby in the womb. During the debate on the House and Senate floor, all of the 28 sponsors of S.B. 10 'Repeal Abortion Ban', refused to answer questions over and over again when pressed for comment. Senator Jacob Candelaria (D-Bernalillo) went so far in his irrational and unscientific denial of the of the development of the child in the womb, when he threw a fetal model of a 12 week old baby that was biologically accurate in the trash calling it, 'offensive'! It is astounding that the 1969 New Mexico legislature was more committed to science and rational debate than our current legislature in 2021," stated Tara Shaver, spokeswoman for Abortion Free New Mexico.

From NM Senate debate today on abortion up-to-birth and infanticide S.B. 10: Sen. Jacob Candelaria (D-Bernalillo) calls models of 12-week old baby babies provided by Right to Life of NM “offensive” and claims life doesn’t begin at conception (despite medical science). Watch ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/uEHbZLBF2M

— Piñon Post (@PinonPost) February 12, 2021

In response to the radical Democrats many of them self proclaimed Catholics, stripping the only Pro-life protections off the books in New New Mexico, prominent Pro-life priest Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, director of Life Ministries U.S. issued the following statement, 

"As I drive around New Mexico and I see the homelessness, the poverty, the bankrupt businesses and I talk to people whose lives have been destroyed and who are in despair, the Democrats focus on legitimizing the murder of the pre-born till the day of birth and legalizing assisted suicide of the medically, emotionally, and psychologically vulnerable. As a Catholic priest, I cannot remain silent while our politicians, many of them Catholic including the Governor, legalize the mass murder of their own people while ignoring those who are truly suffering and in need. The outcry of the Church should be deafening! May Jesus have mercy on us for perpetrating and allowing this evil."

Thank you to everyone who called and sent emails voicing your opposition to S.B. 10. While there is no current political solution to end abortion in our state, we at Abortion Free New Mexico still have a strategy to work that can close abortion facilities and bring accountability to the New Mexico abortion industry. It is now going to be more important than ever to work at the grassroots level together, to save babies lives. Please keep our efforts in your prayers and look out for and share action items.