Wells, Texas: Sanctuary for the Unborn
Another Texas city has made it clear to the rest of the state, and the nation, that the destruction of unborn human life is abhorrent to its residents. On February 10th, the city council of Wells, Texas voted to pass an ordinance that outlaws abortion within the jurisdiction of its city. The vote was unanimous, with all five council members voting in favor of the ordinance.
The city of Wells is now the twelfth city in the nation that has outlawed abortion and declared itself to be a Sanctuary City for the Unborn.
The Wells ordinance outlaws surgical and medical abortion and makes it illegal to sell or distribute “emergency contraception” within the city limits. The ordinance aligns with pre-Roe statutes that have never been repealed and are still on the books in Texas. Like those statutes, the Wells ordinance does not criminalize the mother, only abortionists and those who are found aiding and abetting abortionists within the city limits.
Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Kalka said, “As a leader of this community I feel that it is my obligation as a Christian and a leader to protect all citizens of this community, including the unborn. We are our brothers’ keepers. This is why I purposefully supported this ordinance.”
Wells is a small city in East Texas about 25 miles southeast of the city of Rusk and about 20 miles southwest of Nacogdoches. Wells is the second city in Cherokee County to outlaw abortion. The city of Rusk outlawed abortion earlier this year in a 3-2 vote on January 9th.
In 2016, the county voted 76.9% Republican, 20.7% Democrat. In the 2018 Republican Party Primary, Cherokee County residents had the opportunity to vote on Proposition #7. On this proposition 4,618 Cherokee County residents said they were in favor of the idea of abolishing abortion in the state of Texas while 1,257 residents said they were against the idea.
Presenting the ordinance was Right to Life of East Texas director Mark Lee Dickson, who gave a statement to CRIT-LARGE stating, “Tonight the City Council of Wells passed an ordinance concerning the health and safety of all of their residents—both born and unborn. Abortion may not be outlawed in Dallas or Fort Worth or in Shreveport, but because of tonight’s vote, abortion is now outlawed in the city of Wells.
“Planned Parenthood may say that abortion is still legal in every single city in America, but that is just not true. Abortion isn’t legal in Waskom, Naples, Joaquin, Tenaha, Gilmer, Westbrook, Rusk, Colorado City, Gary, Big Spring, or Wells. Abortion is now prohibited in over ten cities in the United States.” Dickson went on to say, “Tonight the City Council of Wells cast their vote and, in doing so, said to the people of their city, ‘Unborn babies will not be murdered in this city. We are not going to allow it! Not today! Not tomorrow! Not ever!’ The council made the right choice. They made the God-honoring choice. They hated evil, loved good, and established justice at the city gate.”
While many have challenged the legality of the ordinance, Dickson stands behind it assuring, “The city of Wells, like every other city which has passed this ordinance, is fully within their rights to ban abortion within [its] city limits. The same rights which allow them to ban things like the use of engine brakes or ban camping on public property also allow for them to ban abortion within their city limits.”
Dickson went on to state, “The Supreme Court never said abortion had to be offered in every city and in every county in the United States of America. What the Supreme Court did say was that restrictions on abortion only violate the Constitution when they impose an ‘undue burden’ on a pregnant, abortion-minded mother. Since there are no abortion facilities within the city of Wells at this time, outlawing abortion within the city limits of Wells does not create an ‘undue burden’ for pregnant, abortion-minded mothers.”
While it is true the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn ordinances do challenge Supreme Court decisions (like Roe v. Wade, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt), in no way, shape, or form are the ordinances themselves inconsistent with state law. Dickson and associates claim the ordinances do not violate any state or federal laws, but work within current abortion jurisprudence, going as far as the local government code allows. In Wells, the local government code states, “The municipality may adopt an ordinance, act, law, or regulation, not inconsistent with state law, that is necessary for the government, interest, welfare, or good order of the municipality as a body-politic.”
After the passing of the ordinance, Councilman Matt Myer said, “I can’t think of a better ordinance to pass than the one we just passed tonight. It gives me hope that there are still God-fearing Americans who are willing to call abortion what it is—murder. It’s my opinion that protecting the life of pre-born children should be a priority of every God-fearing citizen in America. I’m hopeful that more cities across the nation will do the right thing and speak up for the protection of these children.
“I was very happy that five of my own children were able to witness this vote. I hope it will inspire them to be men and women who will speak the truth in the midst of a sick culture that [has] murdered 60 million children since 1973. We need to change that legacy. I went home tonight and hugged my 5-month-old and thought, ‘It’s children just like you who we’re trying to protect buddy.’ ”
For more information about the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative visit www.sanctuarycitiesfortheunborn.com. Continue to follow the Texas pro-life fight in our CRIT-LARGE series, Texas: Sanctuary for the Unborn.