Never-Before-Seen Pro-Life Letter from Ronald Reagan

reaganletterOne of the items prominently displayed on the wall of my office is a letter I received in 1985 from President Ronald Reagan.

The letter was written regarding an effort at the time to amend the Arkansas Constitution to prevent the public funding of abortion. It reads,

I was glad to learn of your dedication to the right to life of all Americans, born and unborn.

The tragic taking of human life by abortion is a matter close to my heart. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, more than 15 million of our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters–Americans all–have been killed by this practice.

What is at stake in the debate over abortion is dramatically evident with the release this year of a videotape which, using the technique of real-time ultrasound, shows the brutality of this violent act. No longer can advocates of abortion deny reality: Abortion is not merely a matter between a woman and her doctor. For when they say that, surely they are forgetting the unborn child whose very life hangs in the balance.

I have often said that this issue will not be finally resolved until the facts and arguments are clearly framed and presented. Today, this is coming to pass. As more and more Americans become aware of the true nature of abortion, I am convinced that the policy of abortion on demand will be reversed and that everyone’s right to life will once again be fully protected.

You have my best wishes. God bless you.

Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan

Nearly thirty years have passed since President Reagan wrote that letter. In that time, the Arkansas Constitution has been amended to prevent public funding of abortion. We have seen abortion in Arkansas decline to some of the lowest levels since the 1970s. We have seen record numbers of Americans self-identify as “pro-life.” We have seen waves of new legislation written on the basis that human life has inherent value and dignity.

If the past three decades are any indicator, I believe Ronald Reagan was right: Americans have become more aware of the true nature of abortion, the policy of abortion on demand is being reversed, and everyone’s right to life will once again be fully protected.

Updated: Why Did 2 Ambulances Go to the Little Rock Abortion Clinic?

Last February, pro-life volunteers praying outside Little Rock’s surgical abortion clinic posted pictures and video on Facebook of an ambulance visiting the clinic and transporting a woman away.

A few weeks later, pro-life volunteers praying outside the same clinic as part of 40 Days for Life shared videos and photos on Facebook of another ambulance transporting another woman away.

Although many people might assume an ambulance at an abortion clinic is indicative of a botched abortion, we wanted to investigate the matter further before jumping to any conclusion. Recently we sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Little Rock Ambulance Authority and Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) asking for any and all documents and files related to the two incidents.

In response, we received two heavily redacted 911 recordings; redacted recordings of the dispatchers sending emergency personnel to the scene; redacted ambulance trip details; and redacted screenshots of the 911 operators’ computer screens at the times each of the calls was made.

According to attorneys for the City of Little Rock, medical information recorded on a 911 tape is exempt from disclosure under Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act and must be redacted. As a result, the city redacted all information related to each patient’s condition–including information about what prompted the calls and any injuries the patients had suffered.

We spoke with multiple attorneys of our own, and not all of them agree that the redactions were appropriate. However, we have decided to share what little bit of information we were able to glean from the redacted files.

The first call to 911 was placed on the morning of Saturday, February 7. The redacted “Trip Details” sheet and screenshots we received from the Little Rock Ambulance Authority list the nature of the call as “[A] Sick Person” and “[A] Medical Emergency.”

The second call to 911 was placed on the morning of Wednesday, March 11. The redacted files we received from the Little Rock Ambulance Authority list the nature of the call as “Hemmorhage/Lacerations [sic].” The files and 911 tape both note that the patient was in the clinic’s OR Room at the time of the call.

Both calls request the patients be transported to UAMS in Little Rock for emergency evaluation.

Due to the extensive redaction of the calls and documents, it is impossible to determine anything certain about either situation other than they were both emergencies involving women at the abortion clinic. It is well documented that abortion can lead to many complications, including, among other things, infection, hemorrhaging, and even death. Given the circumstances, a person might reasonably assume the two emergencies were related to abortion. However, with so little information, we cannot even determine if either woman was seeking an abortion, much less that these two situations were complications resulting from abortion.

However, there are three things I believe everyone can do in response to this information:

  • The first is pray for these women.
  • The second is continue to pray that abortion in Arkansas will end.
  • And the third is continue to support efforts to make Arkansas a more pro-life state.

Click here to listen to the redacted 911 tape from February 7.

Click here to listen to the redacted 911 tape from March 11.

Click here to see the redacted dispatchers’ screenshots and reports.

Updated 4:15 PM, 4/13/2015: Officials from the Arkansas Department of Health inform us the woman transported from the abortion clinic on March 11 was taken to a local hospital where she was observed overnight before being released. We do not have any information regarding the woman transported to the hospital on February 7 at this time.

Governor Signs Good Pro-Life Bill into Law

The following press release is from our friends at Americans United for Life.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (04-7-15) — Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s signing of HB 1578, “The Women’s Right to Know Regarding Abortion” Act, made his state the second to expand Informed Consent requirements to include information that chemical abortion may be reversed, if a woman acts in time. Based on model legislation from Americans United for Life, Arkansas joins 31 other states in trusting women with more complete medical information about abortion and becomes the second state to include information on the impact of life-ending drugs on a woman’s body.

“Already more than 80 babies have been born, following the chemical abortion reversal process,” said AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest. “No medical reason exists to deny mothers the opportunity to choose life by sharing with them all their options.”

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