After the Dobbs decision of June 2022 overturned Roe -vs- Wade and returned abortion to individual states, we fully expected the Left would begin pushing abortion again on the State level. 

It took little time for the Left to react here in Arizona.  There is an all-out initiative to place abortion on the ballot of our upcoming elections.  This ballot measure would change the Arizona Constitution.  The initiative is well funded, and the forces behind this effort are employing hundreds of paid signature gatherers.  With the funding they have in play, I have no doubt they will succeed.

In the interest of fairness, my position on abortion should be known by you, the reader.  I am a pro-lifer and am fundamentally opposed to any form of abortion.

Now it’s time to take a look at the realities in play on this issue.

Arizona currently bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with limited exceptions.  This extends a few weeks into the second trimester.  

Let’s review how far along a fetus is at the 15-Week-Gestation period.

1) All of the major organs have formed.

2) The heart pumps 26 quarts of blood per day.

3) The heart has already beat approximately 15,800,000 times.

4) Each finger moves separately.

5) The fetus prefers sucking his left or right thumb.

6) The entire body responds to touch.

7) The fetus responds to taste.

8) The brain creates neurons at a rate of 250,000 per minute.

9) Brain connections formed at 15 weeks’ gestation last into adulthood.

10) The fetus can feel pain.

The reasonable compromise position of fifteen weeks is apparently not enough for abortion advocates. There is no room in their hearts for compromise anymore – for any issue, let alone abortion. 

In textbook consistency, they want abortion up until the moment of birth, and many advocate for post birth abortion.  And they are willing to lie to all of us in order to accomplish their grizzly objectives.

For example, the Left is fond of saying 68% of Americans support abortion.  While that is partially true, they conveniently omit the fact that is only for the first trimester.  Once into the 2^nd trimester, Americans completely flip and 68% are against abortion.  And 87% (7 out of 8) are against abortion in the final trimester.  That clearly indicates that most ardent Democrats are against late term abortion.  And yet, the Left continues its march – not agreeing with the vast majority of ALL Americans. 

The Left continuously repeats the mantra that the Right is always trying to subvert Democracy.  Given the Left is going against the view of the majority of people, tell me again who is the threat to Democracy?  

And historically, enough has never been enough for the Left.  If you recall, abortion was initially sold to the American public as “Safe Legal and Rare”.  Roe -v- Wade was based on this tenet, and tens of millions of Americans supported it.  Yet over time, the Left continued to move the goal post to Abortion on Demand, and eventually, Post Birth Abortion.  And the procedures became more and more gruesome, evolving into Partial Birth Abortions.

To date, there have been over 63,000,000 abortions in the United States and counting. That is an astonishing number.  For comparison, the population of the largest State in the U.S., California, is under 40,000,000.

Unfortunately, there is no compromising with the Left anymore.  That much is clear.   The new bill they will be asking Arizonans to endorse, is asking for it all again – abortion up until the moment of birth. And if Arizonans vote for this, it will only be a matter of time before they come back for Post Birth Abortion. 

And of course, the Left is intentionally selling abortion behind a “health care” moniker.  Whose health care?  The babies?  And they are once again using the tired old vague marketing ploy that anyone with any physical and/or mental reasons will be legally allowed to have an abortion.

If the new Ballot Initiative is voted down, Arizona will still have legal abortions up to 15 weeks gestation.  Prepare yourselves, as I am sure we will be misled by the abortion advocates who will make it seem that the 15-week rule either doesn’t exist, or it will go away if we vote ‘No’.

Furthermore, since the Dobbs decision was upheld by the Supreme Court, abortions are down 7%.  Is that a bad thing?  Since that day, have the horrible predictions the Left was trying to sell you come true?  Have you heard of women dying in ‘back-alley abortions’?  Of course not.  The Left was up to their fear mongering and will be again.

Be prepared.  Tell your friends. Do not sign the “Health Care” petition.  When it makes it on the ballot, vote ‘NO’.  Arizonans must send a message that we need to be rational about this and maintain the current compromise position of 15 weeks.    

Wholesale abortions for any reason, physical or mental is not who we are.  Arizonans are sensible and compassionate people who want the best for mothers, for babies, and for society in general.  The current compromise position should be enough.  Consider the fact that the Right is not pursuing any ballot initiative outlawing abortions.  The Right seems content with the current 15 week limits.

Lastly, the Left is counting on fatigue when it comes to the abortion issue.  They believe that if they hit us often and hard, we will capitulate.  Even if this is voted down, they will once again try Incrementalism to accomplish their objectives. 

Stay strong Arizonans. Do not give in. 

— Aether