Abortion in Arizona 2011-2019

Commonsense health and safety regulations for Arizona abortion clinics and their doctors lead to fewer abortions, and a continued culture of life. Don’t ever get discouraged by the small steps taken toward a day when abortion is unthinkable.

Today, Center for Arizona Policy released a study of the impact of Arizona’s pro-life laws from 2011-2019: Arizona: A Strong and Consistent Force for Life. The study shows our state as “a national leader for the pro-life cause.” It cites many of Arizona’s 62 abortion laws as the reason for a decline in the number of abortions, especially among teenagers, over the last nine years. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, the overall number of abortions dropped from 14,401 in 2011 to 13,097 in 2019. That’s 1,304 fewer lives lost at the hands of abortion doctors.

The analysis credits CAP and pro-life legislators for enacting 49 abortion laws over CAP’s 25-year history. Many researchers agree, the abortion regulations are not simply keeping women from getting abortions, they are equipping women with information that leads them to choose life. Laws requiring abortion clinics to provide women adequate information, and a waiting period in which to consider their options, lead women to sometimes change their minds.

Research shows these women choose life, “when laws compel abortion providers to treat women with respect by giving them full and accurate information – instead of herding them through the abortion process at a hurried pace that benefits only the abortion providers’ bottom line.”

Americans United for Life listed Arizona as the most pro-life state in the nation in 2018 and 2019, and consistently ranked us among the top five states promoting human life.

Yet Abortion Numbers Show Concerns

Last month, the Arizona Department of Health services released its annual report: Abortion in Arizona: 2019 Abortion Report. Noteworthy bullet points from the study:

• Abortions increased by 659 in 2019 for a total of 13,097 abortions, 99% of the women were Arizona residents
• 7% of abortions were to unmarried Arizona residents
• 60% were surgical abortions and 40% medication abortions
• January was the highest month for number of abortions (1,216)
• 39% of abortions were to Hispanic or Latino women
• 34% had a prior abortion
• 92% of all abortions were prior to 13 weeks gestational age of the baby
• 243 abortions occurred at 18-20 weeks and 166 over 21 weeks
• Only eight clinics are licensed in Arizona, down from a high of 13 prior to commonsense abortion laws going into effect
• 15 reports were filed by doctors documenting the measures taken to treat babies that survived an abortion
• No abortions were paid for using state funds

Much work remains to be done to build a culture of life in Arizona. While the numbers have increased, we are grateful the increases are not higher given Arizona’s tremendous population growth over the last decade.

CAP will continue to lead the charge for the sanctity of human life for preborn children and their mothers, but if it weren’t for pro-life legislators, these laws would not be on the books, and women would not have been served, nor babies saved.

It is a vital reminder of how important the November 3 election is to the culture of life in Arizona. Will we remain a leader in pro-life legislation, providing women the information and resources they need to choose life?

If voters in this election do not intentionally choose pro-life candidates for the state legislature, all of these abortion regulations that serve vulnerable women could fall in one session. Think that is hyperbole? Listen here to what happened in Virginia. It took just a matter of months to undo more than 20 years of pro-life, pro-family legislation.

Visit azvoterguide.com to see how candidates answered questions on this, and several other key issues.

This analysis also highlights the importance of having Amy Coney Barrett confirmed as the next Supreme Court Justice. As a textualist or originalist, Judge Barrett will interpret law based on the text of the U.S. Constitution, not in line with a political agenda. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted yesterday to confirm Judge Barrett, in spite of an orchestrated boycott. The full senate is scheduled to vote next Monday.

ICYMI –

• Some senators boycotted yesterday’s U.S Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation vote of Judge Barrett.
• Listen to CAP’s latest podcast with the author of “Jesus and Mary Jane,” a look at marijuana through the lens of science and Scripture.
• Read Ryan T. Anderson’s short essay on the importance of counseling for same-sex attracted minors in “Protect Good Medicine, Stop the Censorship of Good Counseling”

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