Commissioner James Calkins of Santa Rosa County, Florida, is looking to take action this summer to protect unborn babies from abortion, with the prospect of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing states to ban abortions again.
At a June 9 meeting, Calkins said he is working with the county attorney to draft an ordinance that would ban the opening of abortion facilities in Santa Rosa County, the Gulf Breeze News reports.
“We want to be a real haven for life and prevent a potential abortion clinic from coming to Santa Rosa County,” Calkins said.
He told the other commissioners that he plans to introduce the All Lives Matter Ordinance at the June 14 meeting.
If the Supreme Court overturns Roe this summer over Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health’s Mississippi case, Calkins said it will be “something to celebrate.” He said many Americans have been praying to end Roe and abortion for 50 years.
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The Pensacola News Journal reports that Santa Rosa County has no abortion facilities, but the ordinance could prevent one from opening.
“If that (Supreme Court decision) happens, it will give jurisdiction to the states and hopefully to the governments of the provinces. Now we have our state statutes governing this matter that we must investigate. And we have our courts in Florida that have precedents and rulings on this matter,” Calkins told the News Journal. “My…ultimate goal is to ensure we don’t allow an abortion clinic in Santa Rosa County.”
He also hoped the regulation would have a “domino” effect and inspire other provinces to take similar measures to protect unborn babies.
Other local government leaders have considered pro-life and pro-abortion measures. On Tuesday, the Jacksonville, Florida, City Council rejected legislation that would have forced taxpayers to fund abortion-related travel expenses for city employees.
According to state health statistics, more than 79,000 unborn babies will be aborted in Florida by 2021.
A new state law due to take effect July 1 prohibits abortion of unborn babies after 15 weeks. The law could save thousands of lives every year.
Several cities have passed legislation in recent years to protect unborn babies.
To date, 50 cities in Texas, Nebraska, Ohio, Louisiana, and Iowa have passed Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinances, prohibiting abortions within city limits.
Dozens of other cities and counties have passed pro-life resolutions, which are statements of support but not enforceable law, recognizing the right to life of unborn babies. In Arkansas, 19 counties and ten cities and towns have passed pro-life resolutions, according to the Family Council of Arkansas. Several North Carolina counties have also recently passed pro-life resolutions.
Since 1973, Roe v. Wade has forced states to legalize abortions until they were viable and to allow abortions up to birth. As a result, more than 63 million unborn babies and hundreds of mothers have died in supposedly “safe, legal” abortions.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Mississippi abortion case this summer, possibly later this month.