June 25, 2020
Colorado is one of the few states to allow abortion all nine months of pregnancy for any reason. The state’s radical law makes it an abortion destination, and many women travel to Colorado to obtain a late-term abortion.
Dr. Warren Hern, the prominent Colorado abortion provider, describes the four-day procedure here.
The reality of late-term abortion is horrifying, and even many pro-choice activists are in favor of restrictions on late-term abortion. According to a Gallup poll, 53% of Americans are in favor of limits on abortion, and 21% of Americans are against abortion in all cases.
Colorado pro-lifers are mobilizing to fight late-term abortion with Ballot Initiative 120 or “Due Date Too Late,” which seeks to ban abortions in Colorado after 22 weeks gestation when many babies are viable. On August 8, 2019, pro-lifers began the process of filing for Ballot Initiative 120.
Pro-lifers distributed petitions to volunteer circulators in October 2019 and began collecting signatures from Colorado residents in support of the legislation. Students for Life Action groups played a role, collecting thousands of signatures outside of stores, restaurants, and churches.
On March 4, 2020, 137,624 signatures were turned into the Colorado Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, although many were thrown out due to duplicates and errors by the signers. After a review, the number of signatures came up short by approximately 10,000, which triggered a two week cure period. During the cure period, volunteers worked hard and successfully collected 43,000 additional signatures, guaranteeing Ballot Initiative 120’s place on the Colorado ballot this November.
If passed, any doctors found guilty of performing abortions past 22 weeks will be fined. The initiative does not include criminal penalties for women seeking late-term abortions. Additionally, in accordance with previous Supreme Court decisions, the initiative includes an exception for situations in which physicians deem the life of the mother is in serious danger.
In a Students for Life of America video, Dr. John Bruchalski, who committed abortions for two years, argues that abortions are never medically necessary.
While Ballot Initiative 120 securing a spot on the ballot is a significant victory for pro-lifers, the fight is only beginning. Abortion Access for All, Colorado ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and Cobalt (NARAL) have pledged $165,000 to defeat Ballot Initiative 120.
As previous attempts to ban abortion altogether in Colorado have failed in the past, Ballot Initiative 120 takes a more incremental in approaching Colorado’s abortion laws. If successful, Ballot Initiative 120 will be the first abortion restriction passed in Colorado since the state legalized abortion in 1967.
Students for Life Action will play an active role in educating voters and spreading awareness and doing voter registration on campus and in the community. The work of Students for Life Action activists on high school and college campuses across the state is vital for the success of Ballot Initiative 120 and for the future of the pro-life movement.
If you are a Colorado resident, you can register to vote here.
Those interested in volunteering for the effort can go to: https://www.voteprolifefirst.com.
For questions or an interview, please contact Kristi Hamrick at [email protected].
This is a guest article by Maggie Sayers, a Students for Life Action Captain and student at Colorado State University.