The natural law of God which says that we shall not murder innocent human beings transcends sectarian religious rules and local criminal codes. It is a law that applies to all people, in all places, at all times. We are fortunate to live in a republic whose highest law, the Constitution of the United States, agrees with God. Lady Justice would be proud of the Fourteenth Amendment to that Constitution which guarantees a right to life and requires that no state “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Lady Justice, an important symbol in our legal system, is a visual representation of the type of justice we want: Equal Justice. Blindfolded, she holds the scales of justice, indicating that evidence should be weighed fairly and judgment rendered solely on the facts of the case, without regard for who is being judged. Lady Justice stands for equality under the law, for equal protection, and impartiality.
Unfortunately, our states are in violation of God’s law and these constitutional mandates. In Oklahoma, our abortion-related statutes are radically inequitable. One statute indicates that those who perform abortions could be punished by two to five years in jail, while another statute provides that those who hire an abortionist risk spending only a year or less in the county jail. Then we find another statute that contradicts both of these by specifically including an “unborn child” in its definition of homicide, while at the same time making exceptions for a “legal abortion.” Hundreds of pages of pro-life statutes regulate abortion as healthcare by prescribing means and methods of performing abortions that are considered legal.
The job of legislators is to establish equal justice. To accomplish that, they must pass the “Equal Protection and Equal Justice Act” (currently Senate Bill 1372) which would remove the contradictions, ambiguity, and inequality in our state abortion statutes and establish equal justice for preborn humans.
Reasons for Equal Justice and the Abolition of Abortion:
- Consistency. Abortion is murder; therefore it should be equally unlawful for everyone—no exceptions for parents and doctors.
- Protection. We should provide equal protection for all victims. Why should one preborn person’s life be protected by homicide law, while another preborn person’s murder by abortion is state-sanctioned? When it comes to moms, the law should allow us to separate those who are truly under duress from those without excuse. Equal justice requires equal protection for all victims.
- Teaching. The law is a teacher, and we must teach that murder is a crime. To criminalize all abortion is to agree with God and reinforce our consciences which already tell us that abortion is sin, requiring repentance. Abolishing abortion will promote the truth, quickly and effectively exposing the lies and indoctrination that have supported abortion for more than four decades.
- Equal Value. Human beings are intrinsically valuable because we are made in the image of God. We are different from opossums and cock roaches. Because we are all equally human and equally precious to God, we should be valued equally under the law.
- Deterrence. People naturally respect authoritative boundaries. To criminalize abortion is to provide a boundary beyond which the average person will not go.
- Impartiality. We are made in God’s image, and we are called to be like him. God does not show partiality: “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly” (Lev. 19:15). “ For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes” (Deut. 10:17-18). “For God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11).
Not one of our legislative leaders—not Senate President Matt Pinnell, nor Pro Tem Greg Treat, nor Speaker Charles McCall—has had the courage to lead the effort to criminalize abortion. Certainly they know that this act would establish equal justice. They must know that their conservative voters are behind the measure. How could they not know that the Republican Party of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Baptists have officially adopted the platform of total and immediate abolition of abortion? They have seen the rallies, read the literature, followed social media, heard the news stories, and met with citizen activists. Whatever they may claim, they should know and understand their duty. These three legislative leaders are without excuse.
Governor Kevin Stitt, exhibiting a similar lack of leadership after a year in office, has taken no public action to stop the bloodshed or advance the movement to abolish abortion. Perhaps he believes he needs the state statutes to be corrected prior to acting. But in that case, why has he not called a special session of the legislature to pass such legislation? Without his action or explanation, he appears to believe he must obey a wicked supreme Court opinion rather than God and our constitutions.
We must stop delaying justice and cowering before a wicked supreme Court. Let us encourage these men to lead boldly and act decisively. Let us support them with our voices and our votes when they finally choose to stop the bloodshed and establish equal justice.