City council should do their duty to protect vulnerable women and babies and save tax money by directly adopting the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Ordinance
Albuquerque, NM – The Albuquerque city clerk has certified that more than enough valid signatures have been verified on a legislative petition submitted by pro-life groups that would create a city ordinance banning abortions after 20 weeks, or 5 months of pregnancy, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The matter has been forwarded to the city council for further action.
This ordinance, known as the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Ordinance, is unusual since it is the first time citizens have attempted to limit late-term abortions on the municipal level. Albuquerque is the site of Southwestern Women’s Options, the largest late-term abortion clinic in the U.S. and has been known to do abortions through all nine months of pregnancy.
As part of the process, the city council now has 14 days to adopt the ordinance, amend it, or send it on for a city-wide vote, most likely in November. If the city council votes to adopt the ordinance, it would become law without the need for a vote. Direct adoption could save taxpayers the estimated $600,000 that a special election would cost.
“We are confident it will pass on a special election ballot. However, in order to save the city money we will ask that the City Councilors adopt the ordinance. The people have spoken – 27,000 in 20 days,” said Tara Shaver of Project Defending Life.
“If the city wants to be fiscally responsible, it will save the taxpayers the cost of a special election by approving this late-term abortion ban since it shows an even wider support among Albuquerque citizens than other petition measures directly adopted by the council,” said Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor for Operation Rescue. “It’s time for elected representatives on the council to heed the voice of the people.”
Recent ABC/Washington Post poll showed heavy support for late-term abortion limits like the one proposed in Albuquerque with 56% approving such laws.
Along with protecting the lives of babies that are viable and can feel pain, the ordinance would also protect the lives and health of pregnant women that are placed at risk during late-abortions now available in Albuquerque. Nearly a dozen 911 calls placed over several months document all-too-frequent abortion-related medical emergencies at Southwestern Women’s Options.
To further document the very real dangers of late-term abortions, Shaver obtained a consent form given to late-term abortion customers by Southwestern Women’s Options, which confirms that abortions after 18 weeks gestation carry higher risks to the women than birthing a full-term living child.
“Late-term abortion is a barbaric process that has no place in civilized society. It devalues life and subjects women to dangerous, substandard practices that can result in catastrophic complications and death,” said Sullenger. “We pray the people of Albuquerque will restore the respect for life and human dignity in their community by adopting the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.”
View the text of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Ordinance
Learn more about the grisly late-term abortion process.
Please take action!
Since women from all over the U.S. travel to Albuquerque for late-term abortions, this matter is a national one. We encourage the public to contact the Albuquerque City Council and voice support for the council to directly adopt the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Ordinance. If you can only contact one person, please contact Dan Lewis, president of the council. Lewis also pastors Soul Rio Church, yet has been reticent to show leadership in adopting this ordinance that would alleviate the suffering of the innocent.
Albuquerque City Council Members:

Councilor Dan Lewis: danlewis@cabq.gov
Telephone: (505) 768-3189
Councilor Ken Sanchez: kensanchez@cabq.gov
Telephone: (505) 768-3183
Councilor Roxanna Meyers: rmeyers@cabq.gov
Telephone: (505) 768-3159
Councilor Isaac Benton: ibenton@cabq.gov
Telephone: (505) 768-3186
Councilor Brad Winter: bwinter@cabq.gov
Telephone: (505) 768-3101
Councilor Rey Garduño: reygarduno@cabq.gov
Telephone: (505) 768-3136
Councilor Janice Arnold-Jones: jarnold-jones@cabq.gov
Telephone: (505) 768-3136
Councilor Trudy Jones: trudyjones@cabq.gov
Telephone: (505) 768-3106
Councilor Don Harris: dharris@cabq.gov
Telephone: (505) 768-3123