Pain ordinance in Albuquerque hits setback

On Nov. 19, 2013, Albuquerque, NM made history.  While the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act did not gain enough votes to be implemented as a city ordinance, the Pro-Life ranks in the late-term abortion capital have much of which to be proud. 
 
Outspent 4-1 by Planned Parenthood and the rest of their abortion ilk, Pro-Life advocates in Albuquerque succeeded in obtaining enough votes to have the measure even placed on the ballot.  After the measure was initially blocked by the city council, Pro-Lifers rallied and refused to be silenced. 
 
The measure, which ultimately failed 45 percent to 55 percent, may have been the first time such an initiative was placed on a city-wide ballot, but it will not be the last.  Pro-Life groups have vowed to keep fighting. 
 
“While we are disappointed, we will come back stronger,” said Tara Shaver, co-founder of New Mexico’s Project Defending Life.  Advocates of the ordinance state the language on the ballot may have been confusing to some voters and some who fervently disagree with late abortion may have accidently voted incorrectly.  Pro-Lifers vow to work on different outreach approaches and rhetoric in the future. “We will keep moving forward. We will never back down. We will never give up,” promised Shaver.
 
However, Pro-Life efforts did not go unnoticed.  President Barack Obama’s campaign, Organizing for Action, saw the threat and sent people into the city to campaign against preborn babies who feel pain.  The threat of having to protect these babies was so great that the abortion lobby shelled out gobs of money to defeat the measure. 
 
Members of the abortion industry lobbied against the ordinance, modeled after the Texas 20-week ban that went into effect in October, to the tune of $1 million.  
 
Most Americans support such bans, and Pro-Lifers in New Mexico say they now know what elements to work on and how to better spread the message to one day protect these babies.