Gilmer City Council voted to declare the East Texas town a Safe Haven for the Unborn on Tuesday, September 24. In a 4-1 vote, the city passed the ordinance, which bans abortions at all stages within city limits and prohibits abortion businesses from setting up shop within the town.
Gilmer is now the sixth city in Texas to pass such an ordinance, following in the footsteps of Waskom in June and Omaha and Naples earlier this month. With a population of nearly 5,000, Gilmer became the largest Texas jurisdiction to take such a stand for Life.
Pro-Life Texans across the state, disappointed with Texas House leadership’s failure to protect preborn children during the recent Regular Session of the 86th Texas Legislature, are standing up to protect their preborn neighbors by introducing these local ordinances.
During the debate over the measure, Pro-Life citizens of Gilmer shared their support for the elected council members standing up for Life. Melanie Wright, a citizen and director of Hannah House, a local maternity home, explained that Gilmer should care for expecting mothers instead of leaving them to predatory abortion clinics. Many other citizens spoke in favor of the ordinance, pointing out that based on recent election results, more than 80% of the community should support the council taking this courageous stand for Life.
Texas Right to Life applauds the members of Gilmer City Council and the city manager for their bold action to protect preborn children. Because of the size of the town, Texas Right to Life anticipates that more cities will soon follow Gilmer‘s example and prevent the violence of the abortion industry from spreading to their communities.
Will your town be the next Sanctuary City for the Unborn?
If you would like to see YOUR city stand up to fight the abortion industry and build a Culture of Life in your community, contact Texas Right to Life here.