San Angelo held its regular City Council meeting Tuesday morning at the McNease Convention Center. One of the many topics discussed during public comment was whether the City should become a sanctuary city for the unborn.
Texas Senate Bill 8 became effective Sept.1, 2021. This bill is part of the Texas Heartbeat Act, which prohibits women having an abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. Senate Bill 4 prohibits medical professionals of any kind to perform an abortion after the six-week period.
Audience members were able to speak for a three-minute period regarding their views on a proposed ordinance on abortion. The majority of speakers shared pro-life ideologies and religious beliefs on the issue.
Pastor Ryan Buck of Immanuel Baptist church said, “I am very convicted that life begins at conception and I know I have a large congregation at my church and they feel that way and I sense that the majority of San Angelo had that same conviction and so far I believe that’s correct.”
Audience member, Norma Perry, spoke about children in the welfare system waiting for foster care. Perry said there are more than 15,000 children in need of a home in San Angelo alone.
Planned Parenthood in West Texas closed in 2013, after legislative laws placed new restrictions on abortion clinics. In 2019, Planned Parenthood launched a mobile app that allows patients that don't have a nearby location to order testing kits, birth control and treatments.
Pro-choice audience member, Anna Martine, said, “I think the city council should consider that when you impose what a majority wants, you often end up hurting a large number of people.”
Community members asked for this sanctuary of the unborn ordinance to be put on the agenda to vote.
The next City Council meeting will be at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5.