Abortion and abortion trafficking have been outlawed in Shackelford County (pop. 3,105), with several protections being added to protect pregnant mothers and their unborn children.
The ordinance, which was placed on the agenda by Judge John Viertel, was passed by a unanimous 4-0 vote by County Commissioners Steve Riley, Ace Reames, Lanham Martin, and Cody Jordan.
Shackelford County Judge and Commissioners voted 4-0 to pass the Sanctuary County for the Unborn ordinance.
The passage of the measure, which took place at the Shackelford County Law Enforcement Center, made the county the seventh in the state to outlaw abortion.
The county follows Mitchell (pop. 9,070), Goliad (pop. 7,012), Cochran (pop. 2,547), Lubbock (pop. 317,561), Dawson (12,130), and Jack (pop. 8,875) counties.
Upon the unanimous vote, Shackelford County Republican Chair Rodney Casey shared, “We are blessed to have fine county commissioners who voted to make Shackelford County a Sanctuary County for the Unborn! I expect Shackelford County to be blessed as a result of their choice.”
The ordinance puts into place six provisions. These provisions (1) prohibit performing elective abortions and aiding or abetting elective abortions within the unincorporated area of the county, (2) prohibit elective abortions on residents of the unincorporated area of the county—regardless of where the abortion takes place, (3) prohibit abortion trafficking, (4) prohibit abortion-inducing drugs, (5) prohibit criminal abortion organizations from doing business inside the unincorporated area of the county, and (6) prohibit the remains of unborn children killed in elective abortions performed by out-of-state abortion providers from being brought through or disposed of in the unincorporated area of the county.
Due to the abortion trafficking provisions of the ordinance, it is now illegal for anyone to use the sections of U.S. Highway 180, U.S. Highway 283, State Highway 6, State Highway 351, and all sections of all other roads found in the unincorporated area of the county for the purpose of abortion trafficking.
Because of this, those who live within the unincorporated area of the county are now prohibited from driving people out of the county who are seeking to obtain an elective abortion in another state, as such actions would be considered abortion trafficking.
This also means that those who are transporting women from other parts of Texas, who are seeking to obtain an elective abortion in a state like Kansas, cannot pass through Shackelford County, as those actions would also be considered abortion trafficking.
The ordinance is part of a cultural shift that looks at abortion trafficking the same way as drug trafficking or sex trafficking, and is intentionally written to facilitate the end of abortion throughout the United States.
Like the Texas Heartbeat Act, the county ordinance is only enforced through a private enforcement mechanism, allowing lawsuits to be filed by citizens against anyone who violates the ordinance. The ordinance does not allow any lawsuit to be filed against the mother of the unborn child—it only allows actions against those who are assisting her in the killing of her child when they cross the unincorporated area of the county.
The local legislation is in line with several pieces of statewide legislation being entertained this session, including Senate Bill 2880 filed by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) and its companion measure, House Bill 5510 filed by Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Allen). The measures are designed to allow private citizens to file lawsuits against anyone involved in sending or distributing abortion-inducing drugs into or within the state of Texas.
In speaking about the bill, Texas Right to Life Legislative Director Ashley Leenerts said, “A person could order abortion pills online right now and they’d be delivered to their doorstep the next day. The fact that 19,000 Texans did this last year breaks my heart, and it should break yours, too. Texas must pass the Woman and Child Protection Act to save preborn babies and make our state the leader against the underground abortion industry.”
Another extremely important piece of legislation being considered is Senate Bill 33 filed by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-Bulverde)/House Bill 1806 filed by Rep. Candy Noble (R-Lucas), which would prohibit local jurisdictions from funding abortion assistance groups covering out-of-state travel expenses for Texas residents seeking abortions in states like New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas. The legislation filed by Sen. Campbell is a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
The Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn initiative has seen a total of 71 cities and nine counties pass ordinances in seven different states—all prohibiting abortion within their jurisdictions. Those who wish to see their county pass an ordinance further outlawing abortion are encouraged to sign the initiative’s online petition.
County Commissioners Ace Reames, Steve Riley, Latham Martin, and County Judge John Viertel pose for a picture after the unanimous passage. Not pictured is County Commissioner Cody Jordan.
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