It’s that time of year again. A pro-life group specializing in law and advocacy, Americans United for Life, released their 2016 Life List. The list ranks and analyzes in an executive summary the best and worst states for pro-life gains from the previous year.
The “Most Protective” States included:
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Indiana
- North Dakota
- Missouri
- Texas
Louisiana slipped to third place after previously being ranked the most pro-life state in the nation. AUL also printed a summary of state legislative efforts half-way through 2015. The summary explains the action Oklahoma took:
Oklahoma enacted SB 642 based on AUL’s Enforcement Module, providing civil and criminal remedies for violations of the state’s abortion-related laws and mandating more comprehensive inspections of abortion facilities.
Late last year, Oklahoma governor Mary Fallin called for an end to funding Planned Parenthood, as Live Action News reported.
Three of the top states were also honored as pro-life “All Stars” – Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas for enacting legislation based on AUL models.
Such models include the Infants’ Protection Project and the Women’s Protection Project.
The “Least Protective” States included:
- Washington
- Vermont
- New Jersey
- California
- Oregon
- Nevada
- New York
- Hawaii
- Connecticut
- Wyoming
Washington has been ranked the worst state for the past 7 years. Many in the bottom ten are known to pro-lifers for their pro-abortion legislation.
California made the list for its last minute, desperate, but unfortunately successful attempt to legalize assisted suicide. It also continued an alarming trend of attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers by requiring them to advertise abortion.
New York’s inclusion was unsurprising. Live Action News reported on the state’s expansion of third trimester abortions – a procedure that is deeply unpopular with the American public. At least one pro-abortion effort was defeated in New York, however. As AUL noted:
Situation was not made worse by the enactment of the Women’s Equality Act (which sought to invalidate all current and future protective, abortion-related laws). AUL helped to defeat this measure (for the second year in a row).
A nearly 40-page executive summary also goes further in depth for each state, listing out the pro-life measures enacted, as well as the anti-life measures defeated.
A baby at only 7 weeks, 4 days – when many abortions take place. (See www.ehd.org for more scientifically accurate photos and videos.)
In the executive summary, there is also a note about trends, and for those interested in specific abortion-related legislation, there are more nuanced topics and analyses as well.
