Trump says he will not enforce law banning abortion pills by mail, angering pro-life groups

Former President Donald Trump again drew outrage from pro-life organizations this week after he said he would not ban the distribution of abortion pills by mail if elected, drawing outrage from pro-life organizations.

In an interview with CBS News on Monday, Trump answered whether he would enforce the Comstock Act if he won the 2024 presidential election. As explained by reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns, the 1873 law could "prohibit the … distribution of medication abortion by mail."

"No," Trump responded. "We will be discussing specifics of it but generally speaking, no."

When asked again if he would enforce the Comstock Act, Trump reiterated he would not.

The text of the Comstock Act states that "every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion, or for any indecent or immoral use" is "declared to be nonmailable matter and shall not be conveyed in the mails or delivered from any post office or by any letter carrier." It subjects violators to fines and/or imprisonment.

When asked if chemical abortion pills should be "widely available," Trump replied, "It's going to be available," adding, "It is now."

Trump suggested that the U.S. Supreme Court has adopted the view of "keep it the way it is" regarding the availability of the abortion pill, referring to a decision earlier this year dismissing a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's approval of medication abortion pill mifepristone.

The justices concluded that the plaintiffs who brought the case lacked standing to do so. They did not rule on the merits of the case.

The former president and Republican nominee's response to the questions did not sit well with pro-life advocacy groups.

"We can't ignore the rule of law and pick and choose the laws that we want to enforce," Kristi Hamrick of Students for Life of America told Politico.

"Isn't everybody's criticism of the Department of Justice their selective enforcement? So this would be the selective un-enforcement of a law that says these are dangerous drugs and should not be mailed. It's very problematic for a party that respects the law," she said, referring to the Republican Party.

Lila Rose, founder and president of the pro-life group Live Action, told the outlet Trump's comments are a cause for concern.

"It seems like Trump doesn't care about the pro-life base anymore," she stressed.

"When Trump is compromising, it's deeply discouraging to pro-life and pro-family voters, and I think he's putting his own election in jeopardy," she warned. "Quite frankly, this is a losing strategy."

Trump's comments about the Comstock Act were not the only part of the interview that drew the ire of pro-life advocates.

He also declared that "the federal government should have nothing to do with this issue," referring to the legality of abortion. The comment comes as some Republicans and pro-life activists want to push for federal abortion restrictions. Trump has been clear throughout 2024 that he opposes efforts to enact a federal abortion ban and believes the issue should be left to the states.

Tony Perkins, the president of the Christian conservative activist organization Family Research Council, condemned Trump's view.

"It is not a pro-life position, it's not an acceptable position, and it does not provide the contrast on this issue to the degree that we have had in the past between him and Kamala Harris," Perkins told Politico.

Trump faces Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. The Democratic Party Platform fully embraces "reproductive rights," signaling an intention to codify the Supreme Court's now-overturned 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide into federal law.

Hamrick suggested that if Trump really "wants to be out of the federal business of abortion," he should "No. 1, stop funding it and, two, end the federal prejudice in favor of this distribution."

Pro-life groups have been warning about the risks of medication abortion for several years. A 2020 investigative report compiled by Live Action noted that women who take the abortion pill can experience "severe cramping, contractions, and heavy bleeding." The report detailed how FDA data shows "women can expect the bleeding to last 9 to 16 days on average, while 8% experience bleeding for more than 30 days."

The report cited statistics suggesting that the abortion pill caused 24 maternal deaths between 2000 — when the FDA first approved it — and 2018 and caused more than 1,000 hospitalizations and over 4,000 "total adverse events."

That you would even ask that question makes conservatism look bad. Criticizing Trump for for allowing murder which the Left pushes, and chastising the GOP for not being aggressively conservative against the enemy, obviously does not mean favoring the enemy, as instead it means, as said, that the GOP can count on about 80% of the evangelical vote since there is no alternative, while lamenting it appeasing the enemy. Rather than losing votes, if the GOP was more aggressively and wisely tactically conservative, making it graphically obvious how detrimental the Left is, then it would deter more voters from supporting such a perverted party. But instead, the GOP increasingly has become less of an alternative.

I think the GOP should print graphic charts - and send them to immigrants - showing the perversion of the Left, asking questions like, "Do you really want to support a party which promotes confusion among children whether they are a boy or a girl, and does not tell the parents about this, and advocates radical surgery to confused teens?"

And also show the financial collapse that results from increasingly dependence upon the government, contrasting producers versus takers.

Not answering my straight forward question makes you look bad.

All President Trump is doing is letting each State handle the abortion issue as the recent Supreme Court decision ruled. President Trump has nothing to do with abortion. Why do you keep trying to put that placard on him?

I think the GOP should print graphic charts - and send them to immigrants...

Why don't you do that?

Not answering my straight forward question makes you look bad.

Really? That insolence also makes conservatives as yourself look bad, by asking an absurd question, based upon a logical fallacy.

All President Trump is doing is letting each State handle the abortion issue as the recent Supreme Court decision ruled.

No, that is not "all," as he states that he would not enforce the Comstock Act if he won the 2024 presidential election. Also affirming, that abortion pills should be "widely available"
Which is saying you will refuse to enforce a law infanticide, which capital crime should not just a matter of each state, any more than the 2nd Amendment should be.

President Trump has nothing to do with abortion. Why do you keep trying to put that placard on him?

What? How can you not comprehend that if you refuse to enforce a law - or

refuse to prevent an action - then you can be complicit in a crime if you could have prevented or deterred it? Having the power to prevent murder but refusing to use it means that you share guilty due to omission.

Also affirming, that abortion pills should be "widely available"

President Trump has never advocated that.

He was asked a "gotcha" question in an attempt to hamstring his campaign and refused to fall for it. He has an election to win and does not need to take an untenable position especially when the Supreme Court has just abolished Federally mandated abortions in all Fifty States. Please take a deep breath and accept the win and go on fight the next step, next year.

After this, You can have the last word. I'm done.

Anyone who supports this sanction of murder is on the side of the Left.

Yes they are, just as those who supported slavery were on the side of the Democrats then. Neither abortion nor slavery nor human trafficking should be left as state issues. Anyone who would compromise on these issues of the basic value of human life doesn't deserve to win.

Also affirming, that abortion pills should be "widely available"

President Trump has never advocated that.

"Advocated?" He affirmed it, that of the present status as being his:

Political Correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns asked: "Should medication abortion be widely available?" Trump answered: "Well, it's going to be available, it is now. And as I know it, the Supreme Court has said 'keep it the way it is.' I will enforce and agree with the Supreme Court but basically, they've said 'keep it the way it is'." - https://www.newsweek.com/elizabeth-warren-jd-vance-abortion-comments-1944262

Rather, He was asked a critical question which would make it clear if he would compromise in order to obtain votes of pro-murder voters, and Trump refused to take the moral stand. Please take a deep breath and accept the fact. Nonetheless I hope and pray he wins over Kamalageddon but this stand is inexcusable.

After this, You can have the last word. I'm done.

Your argument should be.

Update.

Dobbs undermined and effectively undid all the advancements we pro-lifers have accomplished. It set into motion these decisions and consequences.

The Republican Party platform stood against abortion for 40 years. No more.
Many if not most Republicans once called for a pro-life amendment. No more.
There was a time when a Republican candidate would never be OK with allowing the Federal Government to aid and assist pro-abort states by sending abortion pills in the mail. No more.
There was a time when a Republican would never advocate for the reproductive rights for women. No more.
The Dobbs decision contradicts the 14th Amendent which prohibits any State to deny Due Process to any citizen.
Dobbs has fooled conservatives into thinking this is a States Rights issue and should be left up to the states to decide. Just like those whno argues that slavery should be left up to the states.
He appointed 3 justices to the Court. Instead of ruling that life begins at 6 weeks after conception, they punted this issue to the states. Which in turn gave more power and ammunition to the pro choice movement.
Dobbs has angered much of Trump's supporters who are avidly pro-life.
Dobbs set into motion Trump's opposition to a National Abortion Ban.
Trump is now in favor of the Federal Government paying for IVF. A process many equate with abortion
Trump has called for more than a six week abortion ban in Florida
Etc. These are just the current and obvious disadvantages of Dobbs. More will come to mind later as Triump moves solidly leftward on this issue.

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