Wisconsin Experiences Biggest Abortion Decline in a Decade 

   It’s always nice to have back-to-back good news days. Yesterday, as you will recall, we talked about a decision by a federal appeals court that ruled that there was nothing false or misleading in South Dakota’s requirement that abortionists tell women that abortion “will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being.” If you didn’t read the story, click here.

   Another terrific piece of good news from the Upper Midwest comes from Wisconsin. Wisconsin Right to Life issued a press release explaining that abortions in Wisconsin dropped 14% in 2007 compared to 2006, according to a report from the state Department of Health and Family Services.

   This biggest decline in a decade is not some bloodless statistic. It means that 1,313 fewer babies died—8,267 versus 9,580.

   “We are absolutely elated to learn of this stunning decrease,” declared Barbara Lyons, Executive Director of Wisconsin Right to Life.  “Wisconsin Right to Life to Life uses a multi-faceted strategy to reduce the number of abortions and the continued declines year after year prove our strategies are successful.”   

   As has been increasingly the case, women ages 20-24 are most likely to abort, accounting for 1/3^rd of all abortions. If we look at women 18-34, they collectively account for 81% of all abortions performed.

   African American and Latino women continue to have a disproportionate number of abortions while “Women who are not married obtain 88% of abortions, indicating that the absence of the father in the woman’s life impacts her decision to abort,” Wisconsin RTL reported.

   Lyons added a word of caution. “Planned Parenthood was forced to close two of its abortion clinics in Milwaukee and the Appleton area for seven months in 2007 due to having no one willing to perform abortions,” she explained. “That represented closure of 40% of abortion clinics in Wisconsin. The two clinics are now operating again but it is unknown if they are at previous strength.  It is very possible that we will see an increase in the abortion numbers in 2008.”

   But Lyons added, “Nonetheless, circumstances should not in any way diminish the fact that 1,313 babies who might have been killed by abortion are alive today.”

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