New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill targeted pro-life supporters on Thursday by signing legislation that may outlaw prayer and protests at abortion clinics. The law also expands protections for “transgender” medical interventions.
“This law is a deliberate act of defiance against the most basic human right — the right to life of every child in the womb with a beating heart,” said New Jersey Right to Life Executive Director Marie Tasy.
The bill (S. 2260) makes it illegal for individuals to “injure, threaten, intimidate, or physically block patients or providers … to interfere with reproductive healthcare services,” according to the governor’s office.
It allows abortion providers and women seeking abortions to take legal action against individuals who get in their way; and shields healthcare providers from malpractice claims for providing abortions and other “reproductive healthcare.”
Furthermore, the law expands the definition of “reproductive healthcare services” to include transgender medical interventions. This change places sex-rejecting procedures under the umbrella of New Jersey’s shield laws, which protect New Jersey doctors from lawsuits for violating other states’ laws.
According to the governor’s office, these shield-law protections include:
Protecting patient information related to “reproductive healthcare” from disclosure without prior authorization, as provided by law;
Restricting New Jersey entities from assisting certain out-of-state investigations or legal proceedings that seek to impose liability for providing or receiving protected reproductive healthcare; and
Protecting professional licenses by preventing licensing boards from taking action against a provider solely for providing protected reproductive healthcare.
This means New Jersey physicians who provide harmful and damaging transgender drugs, hormones and surgeries to out-of-state minors can’t be prosecuted for violating other states’ laws against mutilating minors.
“Here in New Jersey, we are standing firm in defense of reproductive freedoms – including the right to choose and the right to receive gender-affirming care,” said Governor Sherrill.
“With this legislation, we are making clear that New Jersey will protect patients, providers, and the fundamental freedom to make personal healthcare decisions.”
While the law ostensibly protects abortion clinic workers and women seeking abortions, pro-life leaders warn S. 2260 may open the door to lawsuit against peaceful pro-life supporters. Tasy argues the law threatens citizens’ First Amendment rights.
“Because terms such as ‘threat,’ ‘intimidate,’ and ‘coerce’ are inherently subjective and rest on individual feelings, this language poses a serious danger to free speech,” Tasy warns.
“Peaceful sidewalk counseling, prayer, holding signs, or simply offering help and alternatives outside a facility can easily be labeled ‘intimidation’ by someone who claims to feel threatened, leaving pro-life advocates open to criminal charges that are difficult to disprove and chilling constitutionally protected expression.”
Attorney Erin Mersino, vice president of Advocates for Faith & Freedom, agrees the law may be used to restrict free speech and target pro-life sidewalk counselors who try to counsel women heading into abortion clinics.
“It’s very concerning,” she told NTD Good Morning. “The cases from the Supreme Court on this issue say that the sidewalks since time immemorial have been places where free speech is supposed to be exchanged.”
If New Jersey officials use the new law to target pro-life supporters for selective prosecution, it will be nothing new.
Under the Biden administration, officials brought 22 lawsuits against peaceful pro-life supporters, some of whom spent time in prison before being pardoned by President Donald J. Trump. At the same time, the Biden Department of Justice practically ignored over 400 violent attacks on pregnancy resource centers and churches.
New Jersey’s S. 2260 also makes it illegal to damage, deface or destroy property because the facility provides abortions or transgender interventions.
Given the law-abiding nature of the vast majority of pro-life supporters, and the extremely violent nature of pro-abortion groups and individuals, it’s obvious New Jersey would be better served by a law protecting pregnancy resource centers and churches from anti-life radicals.
The Sherrill administration has also provided over $52 million to subsidize the abortion industry this year alone. Abortion is legal in New Jersey up to the moment of birth.
All told, New Jersey’s S. 2260 is just the latest bad news for the Garden State. Pro-life supporters might be stirred to action as a result.
Consider signing up to pray outside your local abortion clinic with the 40 Days for Life campaign, which has helped save 26,545 babies from abortion.
You can also support Focus on the Family’s Option Ultrasound program, which places ultrasounds in pregnancy resource centers around the country. Focus provides millions of dollars in resources to these centers annually, and has helped save over 500,000 preborn lives, thanks to the generous donor support.
As more states embrace anti-life laws, it’s up to pro-life supporters to respond by building a culture of life nationwide.
If you are experiencing an unexpected pregnancy and want to learn more about your options, you can visit My Choice Network.
Related articles and resources:
Dealing With Unplanned Pregnancy
Become an Option Ultrasound Life Advocate
New Insights on the Dangers of the Abortion Pill
Overcoming Abortion and Becoming a Force for Life
How You Can Join the Pro-Life Movement
Scriptures Advocating For The Pre-Born
The History of Christianity and Abortion
Massachusetts Bishops: Eliminating ‘Any Legal Restraint’ on Abortion ‘Gravely Immoral’
Massachusetts Removes Abortion Restrictions, Allows Abortion Up to Birth
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