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

Christian Post ^ | 08/23/2024 | Ryan Foley

[SeekAndFind]

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.

"What President Trump is doing is suppressing his own support," Perkins added.

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."

[Responsibility2nd]

"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."

 

Correct. Trump and his loyal followers are blindly following Trump into a corner.

What happened to the states rights policy where the federal government will have no role in this abortion issue? Seems Trump is committing the federal government (USPS) into furthering the abortion goals.

[Responsibility2nd]

The abortion battle should be fought in the states.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You think so? Then why is Trump enabling the states to increase abortions as he is using the USPS to allow abortion pills to be mailed. Mailed by the federal Government.

[Responsibility2nd]

this is not a federal matter, and people getting mad at Trump for not backing a new federal law against abortion 

If it's not a federal matter, then why is Trump using a federal agency to expedite and increase abortions in those states?

[antidemoncrat]

Reminds me of the old saying:
You can please all of the people some of the time
You can please some of the people all of the time
But you can’t please all of the people all of the time

In today’s USA you can substitute Republicans for people.

[Responsibility2nd]

The problem for him is that the US Postal Service is a Constitutionally authorized function.

 

Very correct. Yet Trump is using the USPS to enable pro-abort states to increase the murder of unborn children.

[Responsibility2nd]

Well, he is obeying it; he’s not mailing people abortifacients.

 

??????

You added the word not in your sentence. You meant to write...

Well, he is obeying it; he’s mailing people abortifacients.

[Responsibility2nd]

This is is not a Federal issue anymore. 

I hear Trumpers say this all the time. But they don't say why Trump is enabling pro choice states by allowing the federal govenment to facilitate more abortions.

[Responsibility2nd]

“Cowards.”

Go ahead and talk tough but if you don’t win a majority it’s all just talk.

_______________________________________________

I get your point. But why shouldn’t Trump and the RNC quit riding the fence and go all out for abortions? That’d surely win him a super majority.

[Responsibility2nd]

But, that’s ok, let’s fight over mail in pills.

___________________________________________

Mail in pills is just a minor step forward in the march for more abortions. But it is a move to the left by Donald Trump in his allowing the Post Office to facilitate this.

[Responsibility2nd]

Saying the Federal government should leave abortion up to the states and it's OK for the federal government to allow the Post Office to mail abortion pills to pro-abort states is like saying I have no opinion about abortion, and it's OK if my neighbor wants an abortion.

In fact I'll even drive her to the Abortion Clinic.

If you're not actively against abortion, then you're for it.

[Responsibility2nd]

For now, focus on getting elected and another SCOTUS judge.

________________________________________

You say this after having SCOTUS deliver one of the worst Supreme Court Decisions ever? (Dobbs)

[Responsibility2nd]

It’s unfortunate that the Constitution didn’t ban slavery and considered slaves as 3/5 of a person for population purposes for Representatives. But that comprise was required for it to be adopted. If perfect knowledge of the future Civil War were known, perhaps it would have been different.

Will there likewise be future ramifications for not eradicating abortion in all forms?

 

Correct. Leaving abortion up the the States is the same as when we left Slavery up to the States.

That didn't work out so well, did it?

[conservative98]

He’re another rule or suggestion for you. Wait 2 months then you can go back to your little routine where you sit in your basement all day and throw spitballs at Trump and pretend you are “simply posting articles.”

DNC CONVENTION & PROTESTS - DAY 2 - LIVE
8/20/2024, 6:42:44 PM · 46 of 232
Jim Robinson to Reno89519
Do you realize what time it is? What day it is? It’s the end of August. We have September and October and then the election. We had better be on the same page regarding Trump or we get rewarded with president Kamala. Now is not the time to be critical or for raising doubts. Trump is our man and for all practical purposes Free Republic is Trump Country!! Sometimes God raises up imperfect men to be leaders. Trump has been raised up as our candidate so lets get him elected! (Enthusiastically without the drama).

46 posted on 8/20/2024, 6:42:44 PM by Jim Robinson

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/4259567/posts?page=46#46

[enumerated]

Haha. But seriously… to answer your question:

Over 75% of Americans are against banning abortions completely.
Over 75%!of Americans are against unlimited abortion on demand.

Therefore, going “all out for abortions” would turn off just as many voters as banning abortion.

Abortion is a political “third rail”.. Trump is playing it just right.

[Carry_Okie]

Yet Trump is using the USPS to enable pro-abort states to increase the murder of unborn children.

1. There are easy alternatives to the USPS not under Federal jurisdiction (UPS, Fedex, etc.).
2. Abortion is taking a human life, but it's not "murder" unless it is legally defined as such.
3. We face gobs of ethically difficult issues surrounding making and taking human life, of which abortion is but one.
4. What is missing from public discussion about the law re taking a life is that it MUST be subject to due process.

That last item presents an opportunity for Federalism to address these difficult moral and legal issues instead of getting stuck in the political tar baby that allows any number of ethical abominations to progress unabated.

[Responsibility2nd]

Abortion is a political “third rail”.. Trump is playing it just right.

_____________________________________

I get that. The only votes Trump will lose if from single issue pro-life voters.

I’m as pro-life as they come, but I’m not a single issue voter. I’ll vote for Trump.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: He’re another rule or suggestion for you. Wait 2 months then you can go back to your little routine where you sit in your basement all day and throw spitballs at Trump and pretend you are “simply posting articles.”

And here are my suggestions to you:

1) Stop trying to read into people’s minds and motives as if you know the character of the poster ( I don’t even have a basement and here you are assuming I have one ).

2) Learn to differentiate between the author of an article and the one who simply posted the article.

3) Follow the rules of this forum against spouting profanities against a fellow FReeper.

If our support for Trump is so fragile that a simple negative article will cause his support to collapse then I don’t think you know the level of support that he has compared to the alternative.

[Responsibility2nd]

1. What is missing from public discussion about the law re taking a life is that it MUST be subject to due process.

That last item presents an opportunity for Federalism to address these difficult moral and legal issues instead of getting stuck in the political tar baby that allows any number of ethical abominations to progress unabated.

 

 

Due Process. As given to all citizens by the 14th Amendement. One Vike hosted a very excellent thread recently where he argued that a Pro Life Amendment isn't really necessary as SCOTUS could and should enforce the 14th which applies to the life of the unborn child.

 

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

 

This Amendment contradicts Trump and his Trumpees claim that abortion is a States Rights issue.

1. What is missing from public discussion about the law re taking a life is that it MUST be subject to due process.

That last item presents an opportunity for Federalism to address these difficult moral and legal issues instead of getting stuck in the political tar baby that allows any number of ethical abominations to progress unabated.

Due Process. As given to all citizens by the 14th Amendement. One Vike hosted a very excellent thread recently where he argued that a Pro Life Amendment isn't really necessary as SCOTUS could and should enforce the 14th which applies to the life of the unborn child.

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

This Amendment contradicts Trump and his Trumpees claim that abortion is a States Rights issue.

[Trumpisourlastchance]

Given that this is a post-Christian, morally bankrupt failed nation that has embraced Satan and is at war with God, I am not surprised.