Dear Friends:

On the heels of the signing of Georgia’s “heartbeat bill,” lawmakers in Louisiana are now poised to pass their own legislation to prohibit abortions on unborn babies with detectable heartbeats. Last Thursday, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards was publicly asked about the bill. Governor Edwards responded:

“In eight years in the legislature, I was a pro-life legislator, 100 percent with the Louisiana Right to Life. When I ran for governor, I said I was pro-life and so that’s something that’s consistent.”

In recent weeks, pro-life Governors across the nation have been signing pro-life legislation at a record pace. Governor Edwards, however, is different from the other pro-life Governors because…Governor Edwards is a Democrat.

Within hours of his public statement, my newsfeeds were flooded with headlines—“Louisiana Governor breaks with Democrats on Abortion.” But the headlines only tell part of the story. Most of the stories do not mention that:

As I was reviewing these facts, I was reminded of what took place during the recent Legislative Session here in New Mexico—when 14 Democrats in our State Legislature opposed the radical abortion bill, HB 51. Surely, the victories happening in legislatures throughout the country are encouraging. At the same time, I believe they represent a response to an even greater force at work—and that is, the power of culture.

For years, the radical, pro-abortion lobby has portrayed the life issue as a battle between Republicans and Democrats; between young people and older people; and between women and men. A recent poll, however, revealed that a majority of Americans now support laws that would ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected; that younger voters are more supportive of the laws than older voters; and that women do not differ significantly from men on the issue.

You see, this issue not a matter of Republican versus Democrat, young versus old, or even woman versus man. It is simply a matter of life versus death; and, thank the good Lord, life is winning in America!

It’s time that life wins in New Mexico too, and soon, we will have our opportunity.

Sincerely,

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

P.S. I want to personally thank every one of you who took time to read, forward, and reply to last week’s email – “Governor Lujan Grisham Sends a Message to Hollywood.” I have never received so many responses and I am deeply grateful for all your words of support!

“Is Roe v. Wade settled law?”

This is a question we hear often, most notably during confirmation hearings for federal judges and Supreme Court Justice nominees. For some in the judiciary, the question is met with a simple, “Yes.” For others, however, the response is a bit more complicated.

Consider, for example, Chief Justice John Roberts’ response when asked to clarify his previous statement describing Roe as the “settled law of the land.” The Chief Justice stated, “…it’s settled as a precedent of the court, entitled to respect under principles of stare decisis.”

Justice Samuel Alito, meanwhile, made similar remarks during his confirmation hearing, but went a step further by questioning the meaning of “settled law.” When directly asked if Roe was the settled law of the land, Justice Alito responded, “…if settled means that it can’t be re-examined, then that’s one thing. If settled means that it is a precedent that is entitled to respect as stare decisis…then it is a precedent that is protected, entitled to respect under the doctrine of stare decisis in that way.”

More recently, Roe was described by Justice Neil Gorsuch as “worthy of treatment as precedent, like any others,” and by Justice Brett Kavanaugh as “an important precedent of the Supreme Court that has been reaffirmed many times.”

What do these responses mean? They mean that Roe v. Wade is not settled law. This is why—

  1. Roe is not settled law because four of the nine Supreme Court Justices are likely open to reexamining the case. Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh all agree that Roe is settled law to the extent that it is a precedent and it should be treated as such. However, to Justice Alito’s point, this does not mean that Roe cannot be revisited.
  1. Roe is not settled law because at least one of the nine Supreme Court Justices, Clarence Thomas, believes that Roe was wrongly decided. In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Justice Thomas joined the dissenting opinion which stated in part, “We believe that Roe was wrongly decided, and that it can and should be overruled consistently with our traditional approach to stare decisis in constitutional cases.” 
  1. Roe is not settled law because its permanent legality was left in question by the Justice who penned the majority opinion. As the author of the majority opinion in Roe, Justice Harry Blackmun made it clear that the Court was not in a position to determine when life began. He wrote, “We need not resolve the difficult question of when life begins….[T]he judiciary, at this point in the development of man’s knowledge, is not in a position to speculate as to the answer.” Justice Blackmun went on to state that if “personhood” were to be established, the unborn child’s “right to life would them be guaranteed” by the Fourteenth Amendment.
  1. Roe is not settled law because the Supreme Court can overturn its own precedents. Contrary to what many believe, no Supreme Court decision is beyond further review or an overturning because the Court can overturn its own precedents. The principal of stare decisis—or simply put, the legal doctrine of respecting precedent—does not always confine our modern-day Supreme Court to the decisions of the past. Former Chief Justice William Rehnquist once opined, “Staredecisis is not an inexorable command” (Payne v. Tennessee). Meanwhile, Justice Thomas recently wrote, “When faced with a demonstrably erroneous precedent…We should not follow it” (Gamble v. U.S.). This understanding of the role of precedent is critical for the Judiciary because the Court has at times delivered irrefutably erroneous decisions. Consider, for example, the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, in which the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities. Surely the Court was right to overturn this dreadful decision.

The Judicial Oath, taken by all Justices of the Supreme Court, begins with this statement: ” I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will administer justice…” The administration of justice necessitates the correction of injustice. It took the Court almost 60 years to overturn Plessy. It has now been 46 years since Roe.

As the Supreme Court has appropriately done in years past, it should once again move to correct injustice by overturning Roe—one of its most fallacious and appalling decisions in history.

Sincerely,

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

Dear Friends:

1, 271—This is the number of pro-life laws enacted in the states since the infamous ruling in Roe v. Wade in 1973. (according to the Guttmacher Institute, a national pro-abortion research and policy organization)

33—The number of states who have enacted pro-life laws since 1973.

 27—The number of pro-life laws enacted this year alone.

Perhaps most encouraging is that fact that more than one-third of all pro-life laws enacted since 1973 have occurred within the last ten years. How do we explain this growing momentum? I suggest we look to the court—the court of public opinion that is.

In the words of Bob Dylan, “The times, they are a-changin.” There is no arguing the fact that public sentiment regarding abortion has changed and continues to shift in our favor. Advancements in ultrasound technology have exposed the barbaric nature of abortion procedures—including dismemberment and dilation/evacuation abortions—leading many self-proclaimed pro-choice Americans to rethink their position.

Consider these statistics:

66%—The number of “pro-choice” Americans who now oppose third trimester abortion.
(February 2019 Poll—YouGov & AUL)

55%—The number of voters who believe six-week abortion bans (fetal heartbeat) are “too lenient” or “just right.
(May 2019 Poll—Hill/HarrisX)

54%—The number of Americans who believe the U.S. Supreme Court should “overturn” or “modify” Roe v. Wade.
(May 2019 Poll—Harvard Caps/Harris)

Friends—we are winning in other states and in the court of public opinion, and with your continued support, we can bring this success to New Mexico. This past Legislative Session, we shocked the abortion industry and the nation when we defeated the radical abortion bill, HB 51. In doing so, we proved that the people still have the power to influence public policy and the direction of our state.

Do you want us to continue to fight for a state where life is cherished? Do you want to see New Mexico join the other 33 states who have enacted life-affirming laws? If so, would you consider making a donation today? Thanks to your support, we are close to meeting our fundraising goal for the current fiscal year, and your gift today will get us that much closer.

As always, thank you for your continued prayers and support!

Sincerely,

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

Dear Friends:

On behalf of my friends at Care Net Pregnancy Center of Santa Fe, I want to invite you to attend their Annual Fundraising Banquet on Saturday, October 5th, to benefit their centers in Santa Fe and Espanola.

For the past 10 years, Care Net Pregnancy Center of Santa Fe has been providing complimentary services to women and men facing the challenges of unplanned pregnancies. Their work has contributed greatly to the health and well-being of our communities and has empowered numerous mothers and fathers to choose life for their preborn children.

This year’s banquet will feature testimonials from clients and a special keynote from actress, Lauren Roman. Lauren is best known for her role on ABC’s “All My Children,” and her personal life story is one you do not want to miss.

If you are interested in attending the banquet, please email your name, phone number, and address to registration@SantaFePregnancy.com, or call (951) 313-0758. The event is free, but registration is required.

As Christians, we believe that every human life is a precious gift from the Lord. When we support organizations like Care Net, we put our faith into action.

I hope to see you in October!

Standing for Life,

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

 

WHO: Care Net Pregnancy Center of Santa Fe/Espanola
WHAT: 10th Annual Fundraising Banquet
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 6:00PM-9:00PM
WHERE: Santa Fe Convention Center

 

Dear Friends—

All people are against killing a baby after birth, right?

Well, some in Congress have tried to vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act 80 times. Each time, however, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has blocked the full House of Representatives from voting on the bill—in spite of the fact that 77% of Americans and 70% of Democrats support this commonsense legislation.

Earlier this week, Congressional Republicans hosted a hearing on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 962) featuring an abortion survivor, a former abortion provider, and a neonatologist. The hearing highlighted something I previously shared with you—that H.R. 962 is not a complicated bill. It simply requires that any child who survives a botched abortion be given proper, life-saving medical care. As shocking as it sounds, this care is not required by law, nor does it necessarily happen.

Though rare, babies do survive late-term abortions, and while most states do not report these cases, seven states do. In three of those states—Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida—at least 40 babies were born alive after botched abortions since 2016. Sadly, when a child does miraculously survive a botched abortion, there is often no effort to care for them or give them medical attention. Presumed to be “unwanted,” these babies are either left on the abortion room table to die from neglect; placed in closets until they bleed or starve to death; or killed by other means. Remember Kermit Gosnell?

Because the Democrat leadership refuses to allow a vote on H.R. 962, House Republicans introduced a discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act—a seldom-used option to force a vote on legislation in Congress. To date, 201 Members of Congress, including some Democrats, have signed the discharge petition. 218 signatures are required, so we are now just 17 names shy of forcing a vote on this life-saving bill.

The question is, why haven’t Congressman Ben Ray Luján, Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small, and Congresswoman Deb Haaland signed the discharge petition yet?

Do they oppose infanticide? We want to know, and my guess is, you would like to know as well.

Please click here to send a message to them TODAY, urging them to demonstrate their opposition to infanticide by signing the discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. It will only take a few seconds!

Together, let’s send a message to Representatives Luján, Torres Small, and Haaland—that we want the law to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Thank you for supporting the BORN!

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

P.S. If you are wondering where our U.S. Senators stand on this issue—on February 25, 2019, New Mexico Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich voted AGAINST advancing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in the U.S. Senate.

 

I have a confession to make. Because my wife made me, I have seen the movie Frozen. Please don’t think less of me.

The cartoon ice epic features a number of catchy tunes, and, outside of “Let it Go,” I don’t think there’s one that can get stuck in your head quicker than the enthusiastic “For the First Time in Forever.”

Yet, it’s that refrain that seems so fitting for the pro-life movement now. For the First Time in Forever… we are making significant gains. For the First Time in Forever… we have the Left on the defensive. For the First Time in Forever… we can truly imagine a day when the legalized taking of innocent human life will be no more.

More than any time since, well… forever, the pro-life movement has real momentum. Consider:

But, this momentum could not be more tenuous. The life issue will very much be on the ballot in 2020 here in Georgia and across the country. In Georgia, our legislature hangs in the balance. Nationally, the Supreme Court is at stake. In the battle for our culture, we still have much work to do as we seek to combat the liberal media and radical Hollywood voices.

That’s why it’s so imperative that we do not rest on the excitement of these recent gains. We must continue to put this before the Lord.

I’m asking that you join me in praying for our Governor, Lt. Governor, and leaders like Rep. Ed Setzler who have shown great courage and fortitude. Pray for HB 481, that this legislation leads to thousands of lives being saved. Lift up the 2020 elections and our efforts to protect those who voted for LIFE and unseat those who took the radical position that unborn children with beating hearts are NOT worth protecting. And, seek the Lord’s favor for this movement for a nation where life is cherished.

The fight is not over. We must continue to engage. With our pocketbooks. By pounding pavement for the pro-life candidates. And, on our knees in prayer.

For Georgia,

Cole Muzio
President and Executive Director

Stacey Abrams is going to California… again.

While I would love to see her save on the constant airfare to the state and opt to just move there instead, she’s going with a particular agenda – she wants to raise Hollywood money to undermine the Heartbeat Bill.

Here’s Stacey’s pitch: give her and her network of allied organizations (which, by the way, are under investigation for coordination and illegal use of funds) a blank check to attack pro-life legislators ahead of 2020, run an illegal voting mill operation, and allow her to run a coordinated, secretive campaign against Governor Kemp ahead of 2022.

In short, she wants Hollywood execs to give her money so she can turn Georgia into California.

My friends, as much as I want her to, Stacey Abrams isn’t going away. She won’t go quietly, and neither will her deep-pocketed pro-abortion California friends. Her meeting on June 11 with Hollywood types – along with NARAL Pro Choice (pro-abortion) America president Ilyse Hogue – is just the beginning of Round 2 of Stacey’s War on Georgia Values.

So, how will Georgians respond? Will our state respond with a fervor to match and exceed the energy on the Left? Do you care as much about Protecting Georgia Values as Stacey and her friends care about Turning Georgia into California?

Here’s my request:

  1. Help us spread this message by sending this email to 5 friends and ask them to sign up to receive our emails
  2. Consider making a donation of $10, $50, $100, $250, or more today to protect our state from a Hollywood Takeover
  3. Share our Facebook page with your contacts to keep people updated on the latest efforts for life, religious freedom, and school choice

Stacey’s making her pitch to Hollywood, San Francisco, and New York – a pitch for them to give millions so she and her allied leftists can remake Georgia in the image of California. My pitch to you is our organization’s theme verse: “but the people who know their God will stand firm and take action” (Daniel 11:32b).

Will you take action with me?

For Georgia,

Cole Muzio
President and Executive Director

Do you want to see Gwinnett boldly stand for LIFE in 2020?

Our county is Ground Zero in the coming election cycle, and the pro-abortion crowd made dramatic gains in 2018. But, now, voters have a clear choice. Will they stand with those who stood for the most vulnerable, OR will they choose those who took the RADICAL position that unborn babies with beating hearts do NOT deserve protection?

Frankly, I believe that our county is waking up to the horror of abortion and is ready to turn out to support pro-life candidates in 2020.

That’s why we are proud to announce our pro-life commitment at a special event TOMORROW (June 13th) at 1:00pm in the Gwinnett Republican Party Headquarters (2100 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, GA 30096).

Please join us.

This event will send a strong signal to the pro-abortion crowd that we will stand for LIFE, be unafraid to campaign on this issue, and be organized and intentional about taking our county back!

God Bless,

Cole Muzio
President and Executive Director

We threw down the gauntlet.

In case you missed the articles in the AJC or the TV segment on WSB, we held a press conference where I was joined by legislators and key activists to affirm that Gwinnett County – where more than half the seats that went from pro-life to pro-abortion in 2018 are located – will boldly stand for life in 2020.

That was the easy part. Now, we have to back it up.

It’s imperative that we Take Back Gwinnett for Life in 2020 – the theme of our press conference – and that we turn our strong words into action. But, before we dive into strategy, I’m asking for 10 minutes of your time. 10 minutes devoted to prayer for the cause.

Pray for our efforts in support of:

  1. P.K. Martin, the Education Chairman who represents District 9, who gave one of the most moving speeches I’ve ever heard for the cause of life.
  2. Renee Unterman, who represents District 45, who boldly and winsomely carried the bill to passage in the Senate and has since been the subject of numerous threats. She is now running for Congress, and, while we are still working on our primary strategy for federal races, we are proud of her unshakeable commitment for the unborn.
  3. Bonnie Rich, a freshman legislator in District 97, who voted for the Heartbeat Bill despite being berated by pro-abortion activists prior to the vote.
  4. David Clark, from District 98, who was one of the primary legislators talking with us about the Heartbeat Bill even before it was filed.
  5. Chuck Efstration, from District 104, who never flinched in his support of the bill and was a strong influencer behind the scenes.

Each of these legislators are on the target lists of leftists working to undo the gains we have made for life. But, we have our own list including:

  1. Beth Moore, from House District 95, who attributed the pro-life movement to the devil on the floor of the House.
  2. Gregg Kennard, from House District 102, a “pastor” who runs a highly questionable “non-profit” and joined protesters in opposition to the Heartbeat Bill.
  3. Jasmine Clark, from House District 108, who slandered pro-life leaders saying they don’t care about the heartbeats of women – all while advocating for a position that destroys the heartbeats of countless unborn women.

These three freshmen legislators won by less than 700 votes, and we need your prayers that the Lord will raise up the right candidates to oppose them.

Much work is left to be done in this endeavor, but I want to open this quest by bathing it in prayer. Can you give us 10 minutes to pray for those who stood for life and for our efforts to unseat those who took the radical position that unborn babies with beating hearts and not worthy of protection?

May the Lord Bless this undertaking!

For LIFE,

Cole Muzio
President and Executive Director

 

Paid for by Family Policy Alliance of Georgia

As expected, the abortion industry is suing Governor Kemp for his commitment to protecting innocent human life.

Why? Because abortion is an entire profit-making industry, and the leadership we elected values life – the most sacred gift the Lord gives us – more than money. Because Governor Kemp is committed to doing the right thing over political expedience or what is easy.

Please pray.

This lawsuit wasn’t unexpected. Even during the campaign, Brian Kemp knew that his bold commitment would result in a court battle. It is, however, sad that our fellow citizens so thoroughly cherish death, the ability to snuff out the lives of the vulnerable, that they will sue to keep their industry alive and thriving.

To read what the pro-abortion industry has to say, see the lawsuit filed this morning.

With the legal process beginning, we are prayerful that what is right will win out. This law is scientifically sound – understanding the truth that we are dealing with living human beings worthy of protection. This law takes into account what the courts have been telling us for years about establishing the personhood of the unborn. This law reflects basic common sense – with it being impossible to hear the sound of a heartbeat and not come face to face with the reality of life. And, this law reflects the will of the people of Georgia and their duly elected officials.

Our hope is that the court will cease an era of tyranny and recognize these basic facts and allow our state the right to protect life.

To that end, I humbly ask you to pray.

We will keep you updated throughout this process, and we will also be keeping up the fight in the political and policy arenas for a Georgia where life is cherished. May the Lord continue to show us His grace.

Prayerful,

Cole Muzio
President and Executive Director