Abilene GOP, Democratic party chairpersons react to overturning of Roe v. Wade

An Abilene Republican leader welcomed the Supreme Court's decision Friday to overturn legalized abortions under Roe v. Wade, while the local Democratic party chairwoman decried the ruling.

"I'm most grateful that the prayers that have gone up across America for the past 50 years have been answered today," said Chris Carnohan, Taylor County Republican chairman, in applauding the decision.

Elizabeth Smyser, Taylor County Democratic chairwoman, said the legal, political and economic implications will be sweeping and far-reaching for generations to come.

"Women will die. Families will be devastated. Thousands, if not tens or hundreds of thousands, of pregnant people will remain trapped in poverty and in violent domestic situations they can’t escape," Smyser said.

Carnohan, who is an attorney, said he subscribed to the view of the 1973 Roe v. Wade opinion as "pulling personal privacy rights out of thin air and saying that they are found in the U.S. Constitution."

More: Where the abortion fight goes from here: Roe overruled, but the battle will continue

"In my mind, the issue doesn't turn on the mother's right. It's not just a mother that's involved. There's also a father involved," he said. "Most importantly, there's a third party and that's the innocent human embryo that's growing in that mother and becomes more and more recognizable as a fully fledged human being with every day that passes in the mother's womb."

He said Texas law will allow for an abortion if the pregnancy threatens the life of the woman.

Some Abilene women facing unplanned pregnancies need understanding in their harsh choices, Smyser said.

"If we could foster empathy for the family coping with cancer or struggling to care for a special needs child, the young couple whose contraception failed, the middle or high school student raped by a classmate or friend, or the single mother already working two jobs who must choose between groceries and the light bill, together we could develop solutions to lessen the need for abortion and the resources to care for each other properly," she said.

Smyser expressed concern that "rapists will have more rights than their victims. Doctors will be targeted. Mothers will be made into criminals."

Abortions in the case of sexual assault are minuscule, according to national statistics, Carnohan said.

"The baby within her body had nothing to do with how ever she got pregnant. That baby did not exist at the moment that happened to her and to kill that baby – because that baby's father did something grossly illegal and is subject to strict and rigorous punishment – is no excuse to kill that baby," Carnohan said.

Families waiting to adopt and others will step forward to help the mother and baby, he said.

Smyser wondered, too, how Friday's decision will affect other privacy issues.

"Whether we will continue to have the right to contraception or whether all people will have the right to marry who they love is unknown," Smyser said.

She said she hopes Friday's ruling will lead to record turnout in the fall to elect representatives who will pass legislation that will codify reproductive freedom and build a robust social safety net.

That safety net should include Medicaid expansion, comprehensive health care for mothers and children, paid family leave, free contraception and child care and other measures, Smyser said.

Vote on sanctuary city for the unborn continues in Abilene

The ordinance vote on the November ballot to designate Abilene as a "sanctuary city for the unborn" will not be affected by the Supreme Court's decision, the city said in a statement.

A petition to consider the designation was presented to the council in the spring. The council voted April 28 to put the measure to a public vote.

The city charter governing the petition and subsequent voting process for the proposed ordinance makes no consideration for a Supreme Court ruling, the statement said.

"The majority of our council has voted in favor of our citizens having the final say on a sanctuary city for the unborn ordinance, and the Supreme Court’s ruling doesn’t change our requirement to follow the charter,” Mayor Anthony Williams said in the statement.

More: 'Sanctuary city for the unborn' ordinance creates rifts, allies in march to November vote

Reaction from Big Country state politicians

Lawmakers representing the Big Country also weighed in on the decision.

► U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington of 19th Congressional District: "By the grace of God and the tireless efforts of pro-life champions, we have restored constitutional integrity to our republic and returned the power back to states and 'We the People,'” Arrington said in a statement.

“Ever since the Supreme Court erred in Roe v. Wade, America has failed to protect every citizen’s inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“Today’s SCOTUS decision upholds the constitution’s explicit empowerment of citizens of every state to regulate or abolish abortion.”

► U.S. Rep. August Pfluger of 11th Congressional District: “This is a day that the pro-life movement has prayed for and worked toward for 50 years. Every life is precious. I will continue pushing to protect and defend unborn children. Nothing can be more important.”

► State Rep. Stan Lambert of District 71: "I am committed to support legislation in the next session that will ensure the safety and well-being of both women and children. My hope is that the 88th Legislature will prioritize the resources necessary to meet that goal."

► State Sen. Charles Perry of District 28: "During my time in elected office, the legislature significantly increased funding to the state's Alternatives to Abortion (A2A) program, which helps parents throughout their pregnancy up to three years after the birth of the child. A2A also provides assistance to adoptive parents of a child of any age up to two years after adoption is finalized. ... I am grateful that Texas will once again be able to ensure that children are guaranteed the right to life."

Laura Gutschke is a general assignment reporter and food columnist and manages online content for the Reporter-News.  If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. 

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene political party chairs react to SCOTUS abortion ruling