Pro-Life Tennesseans Have Come So Far
Now, Let's Stay the Course and Protect Amendment 1
Please encourage your state legislators to work with Tennessee Right to Life in support of meaningful pro-life proposals which strengthen our state's abortion laws----not threaten them. Click Here to Contact Members of the TN House Health Subcommittee Today!
Since that time Sharp has stayed the demand for the recount pending the outcome of Tennessee's appeal to the 6th circuit. Additionally, Sharp has unexpectedly announced his retirement effective April 15, 2017.
A separate lawsuit brought by independent owner-operator of abortion facilities in Bristol, Nashville and Memphis seeks to strike down several statutes passed as a result of Amendment 1's approval including informed consent and a 48-hour waiting period for women and girls considering abortion, and heightened inspection and licensing standards for abortion facilities. Also challenged is the requirement that abortion providers hold admitting privileges at a local hospital. At present the informed consent, waiting period and admitting privileges laws are all uniformly enforced and are saving lives across the state.
Tennessee Right to Life is optimistic that Amendment 1 will stand and that the challenged pro-life protections will also be upheld. However, similar provisions enacted by Texas were struck down last summer by the U.S. Supreme Court in Whole Woman's Health v Hellerstedt. And even if Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch proves to be a reliable pro-life vote, we are still a vote short from a pro-life majority on the high court.
With all these factors in mind, Tennessee Right to Life has deep concerns at abortion bans proposed this year at the state Legislature. Such bills cannot currently be enforced as constitutional and may unintentionally provide a hostile court with the opportunity to re-affirm the wrong holdings of Roe v. Wade. Such laws may also serve to influence the outcome of pro-abortion lawsuits against the Amendment and current protective laws.
Please encourage your state legislators to work with Tennessee Right to Life in support of meaningful pro-life proposals which strengthen our state's abortion laws----not threaten them. Click Here to Contact Members of the TN House Health Subcommittee Today!
Together we've come so far. Now let's stay the course to protect Amendment 1 and the challenged pro-life laws which are effectively saving lives every day in our state.