The Nebraska village of Stapleton has a new pro-life ordinance that outlaws the killing of unborn babies in abortions, joining 50 other cities across the country.
According to 1011 NOW, the Stapleton Village Board voted 3-1 on Wednesday to pass the Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance and ban the killing of unborn babies in abortions within city limits.
Village resident Wanda Osnes began the petition to bring the ordinance to the village board earlier this year. After the vote, she told the local news, “I have always believed that life begins at conception, that abortion is wrong, and I don’t want it in my community.”
The pro-life ordinance recognizes that unborn babies are valuable human beings who deserve to be protected under the law. It prohibits abortions within city limits, with exceptions for risks to the mother’s life, and prevents abortion businesses from opening there. It also penalizes abortion practitioners for aborting unborn babies, but it does not penalize women who seek or have abortions.
Mark Lee Dickson, director with Right to Life of East Texas and founder of the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn initiative, said Stapleton is the 51st city in the country and third in Nebraska with an ordinance banning abortions.
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“They also became the FIRST municipality in Nebraska to pass an ordinance by a vote of the village board as a result of a citizen initiative petition!” Dickson wrote on Facebook after the vote. “Since they passed the ordinance there is no need for there to be a citywide election on the ordinance.”
On Wednesday, the city council of Curtis, Nebraska, also voted on a Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance after its citizens collected enough signatures to prompt a vote, according to the local news.
The council voted 3-0 to place the proposed ordinance on the November ballot for voters to decide.
Dickson said Curtis voters will not be alone in voting to outlaw abortion in November. Other cities whose residents will vote on whether to outlaw abortions include: Abilene, San Angelo, Plainview and Athens, Texas, and Arnold, Nebraska.
He said pro-life advocates are working with cities in New Mexico to pass pro-life ordinances as well.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, states have been acting to protect unborn babies again. However, abortions are still legal in Nebraska and New Mexico.
Last week, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said he wants his state to ban abortions and “affirm the rights of preborn babies and to support pregnant women, children, and families in need.” However, he said the state legislature currently does not have enough votes to pass legislation to limit or ban abortions.
In New Mexico, the state legislature is pro-abortion and state laws allow unborn babies to be aborted for any reason up to birth.
