News

WICHITA, Wed Apr 6, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The abortion rates in Kansas have nosedived, according to a new report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The report, released at the end of March, showed that abortions in Kansas fell 12 percent last year from 2009 numbers, and were down 32.4 percent when compared with the 2000 figures. Abortions reached a high of 12,445 in Kansas in 1999, but are now at the lowest level since 1988.

The Wichita Eagle speculated that part of the reason for the declines in the past year, particularly in late-term abortions, may be the death of abortionist George Tiller, who specialized in late-term abortions. Tiller was shot and killed in May of 2009; Scott Roeder has been charged with his murder.

Whereas there were an average of 300 late-term abortions in Kansas per year prior to 2010, that number fell to just one last year, performed on a baby with anencephaly.

At the same time, Kansas legislators have launched a major pushback against abortion in the state, having recently introduced several pro-life bills; they include a fetal pain bill that would ban most abortions after the 21st week of pregnancy, a bill requiring both parents to consent before a minor can have an abortion, and a bill that would bring abortion clinics in line with hospital standards for outpatient surgical centers, and would also ban “telemed” RU-486 abortions.

The House has approved the fetal pain bill 94-28, the consent bill 100-22, and the abortion clinic regulations bill 97-26.

Gov. Sam Brownback indicated he would sign the legislation into law when it comes before him.

House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, referring to vetoes of previous pro-life bills by former Democratic Govs. Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkinson, told the media, “We’ve now got a governor who will sign these bills. It makes all the difference in the world.”

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment report on abortion is available here.