The council in Colorado City voted for the ordinance in a 5-1 decision, and Big Spring passed the ordinance in a 3-2 vote, with one member abstaining and another reportedly absent.
While the vote in Colorado City was final, the ordinance in Big Spring will still require a majority vote at the next city council meeting on January 28.
By passing the ordinances, the towns are prohibiting abortion facilities from operating within city limits.
Abortionists and anyone assisting them that violate the ordinance will be fined for every abortion they conduct at the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
Until that happens, family members related to the aborted child can sue the abortionist.
On Tuesday night, representatives of Texas Right to Life were present at both meetings to support the ordinance.
“By passing this ordinance you are outlining Pro-Life territory in our state, saving the most innocent and vulnerable among us, and advancing the movement,” said Rebecca Parma, a Texas Right to Life legislative associate, to the council in Colorado City.
In Big Spring, another legislative associate for the organization, Katherine Pitcher, told the council, “You have the opportunity to make a real difference for life, to protect the lives of your innocent preborn neighbors who are unable to speak for themselves. This is your opportunity, this is your moment, to stand for justice in your own community.”
The auditorium — which was different than the normal meeting space in anticipation of a large crowd — was filled with other people concerned about the issue.
One woman from Midland who is employed with the ACLU of Texas came to speak out against the ordinance, saying, “The ordinances could potentially cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the city will get no benefit, win or lose. If I’m correct, there’s not an abortion provider in Big Spring. There’s not an abortion provider for over a hundred-mile radius of Big Spring. I’m not even aware of a potential provider coming to this area.”
While it is true that there are no abortion facilities currently in Big Spring, pro-life advocates in Texas are concerned that some could be placed in West Texas soon.
In 2019, Planned Parenthood received a $9 million dollar grant to open two facilities in the area by the spring of this year.
“Will the ACLU or some other radical body sue?” asked another speaker to the council. “Perhaps. I will say, however, that we will be on the wrong side of history if the threat of lawsuits leads us back to the comfort of our own homes.”
“We can’t allow abortion to continue in our country,” said city council member Jim DePauw. “I have a bookmark in my Bible — it says, ‘Wherever I stand, I stand with Israel.’ I want to tell you today that wherever I stand, I stand on the side of God.”
Big Spring Mayor Shannon Thomason said he was born in early 1967 and was put up for adoption before the case of Roe v. Wade began. “Had Roe v. Wade been decided, I might not be here.”
With a population of almost 28,000, Big Spring is the largest city to pass an ordinance that effectively outlaws abortion.
Other cities in Texas were also presented with the ordinance at their council meetings this week, including Carthage and Jacksboro.
The council in Gary City has included the ordinance on their agenda for tomorrow night.
###
Disclosure: Unlike almost every other media outlet, The Texan is not beholden to any special interests, does not apply for any type of state or federal funding, and relies exclusively on its readers for financial support. If you’d like to become one of the people we’re financially accountable to, click here to subscribe.
Daniel Friend
Daniel Friend is the Marketing and Media Manager for The Texan. After graduating with a double-major in Political Science and Humanities, he wrote for The Texan as a reporter through June 2022. In his spare time, you're likely to find him working on The Testimony of Calvin Lewis, an Abolition of Man-inspired novel and theatrical podcast.