The Right to Life Death—the Rewriting of our Declaration of Independence

by Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, Representing Missouri’s 4^th Congressional District 2011-2023

Two hundred and forty-eight years ago, as of July 4, 2024, 56 brave, principled patriots mutually pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor by signing the Declaration of Independence. They risked everything in doing so and many lost everything as a result. Why were they willing to sacrifice so much? Because their God-given rights were being taken away—the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Those three rights were worth dying for. They form the basis of our country’s greatness. They undergird our foundation of freedom, support our good and just laws, and inspire people all over the world.

Securing and preserving these rights has been the primary purpose of government—until now.

Their Fight Against Life

With some recent court challenges and changes in laws, disturbingly, we are seeing a government promoting and defending a “right to death” instead of a “right to life”. There are many examples:

Illinois passed a law barring crisis pregnancy centers from what they label “misinformation, deceptive practices, and misrepresentation” to inhibit their ability to protect life. (This was overruled in the courts.)

Colorado passed a law prohibiting the administering of medication to reverse abortions. This subjects employees to discipline before professional conduct boards, thereby jeopardizing their licenses.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) arbitrarily approved the timeframe for ‘safe’ administering of the abortion pill without full medical review, yet refuses to officially approve the usage of progesterone to stop abortions even though it has been used to prevent miscarriages for years.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued Heartbeat International and 11 New York pregnancy centers for promoting Abortion Pill Reversal treatment.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed an injunction to stop pregnancy care centers from providing Abortion Pill Reversal services, thereby forcing women to abort their babies who do not want to end the life of their child.

Massachusetts has launched a $1 million taxpayer-funded propaganda campaign smearing pregnancy care centers in an attempt to keep women from accessing life-affirming care.

Pro-life activists are being targeted—and jailed—for speaking up for the right to life. Seventy-five-year-old Paulette Harlow recently received a sentence of two years in prison for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act by trying to save the lives of precious unborn children by blocking the entrance to a Washington, D.C., abortion facility.

And even private enterprise is discouraging the right to life. The Yelp website has come under fire for attaching consumer notices to profiles of pregnancy care centers, informing consumers that the centers “typically provide limited medical services and may not have licensed medical professionals onsite” yet Yelp does not attach such notices to abortion facilities although they provide limited services other than abortion.

Our Founding Fathers would be heartbroken at this turn of priorities for our country. The definition of ‘freedom’ for many of today’s leaders is limited to a “freedom of death” while the “right to life” is trampled.

New Warriors Rising Up

America needs patriots today to once again hold out the truths embraced by our Creator—the ones championed by those courageous men and women in 1776. Our country needs warriors for life, people who will not be deterred by those forces who promote death, but who will carry the banner of truth—champions for the unborn.  America needs you.

Thank you for battling in the trenches every day for expectant mothers and their babies. Thank you for not giving up and never backing down. Thank you for preserving the greatness of America.

We are at a crossroads. As Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” May this generation of Americans follow your lead and stand up for the foundational right to life embraced by our country’s Founders. May we ensure our God-given freedoms are not redefined, squelched, or snuffed out. May we preserve and protect the rights so hard fought for and secured by those who have gone before us. The lives of countless unborn children—and the future of our nation—depend on it.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
- Deuteronomy 30:19

In the face of adversity and challenges, take heart. You are part of a movement that stands on the shoulders of giants, carrying forward the principles that our nation was built upon. Your tireless efforts, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the sanctity of life are making a profound difference. Good things are happening because of you. Lives are being saved, hope is being restored, and the truth is being proclaimed. Together, we are upholding the right to life and ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the freedoms our Founders fought so valiantly to secure. Keep pressing forward with courage and conviction. Your work is invaluable, and your impact is immeasurable.

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About the Author

Recently retired Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler represented Missouri's Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2023. She has been a long-time champion of pregnancy help organizations and now serves as a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. She was recently featured on our Pregnancy Help Podcast to discuss "Maximizing Your Impact with Elected Officials".