image-8

Pro-lifers around the country have reason to celebrate today…and NARAL and Planned Parenthood are taking it on the chin. The Hartford Courant, by way of the Chicago Tribune, has the breaking story:

The Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that a Massachusetts buffer zone of 35 feet that includes sidewalks and public walkways outside abortion clinics violates the free speech rights of sidewalk counselors

(Naturally, the Tribune found a picture of the three pro-buffer zone protesters in attendance. I guess they weren’t part of the media entourage seen in the photo above, from Faith and Action on Twitter.)

Check out NARAL Pro-Choice CT’s pout party as they lie about the nature and intentions of vigil participants:

image-7

From my experience as a participant in 40 Days for Life, I can attest — as many have — that I have never seen any act of violence, intimidation, or harassment on our part. I have, on the other hand, seen 40 Daysers offer a folding chair (accepted) and water (declined) to a woman who looked dreadfully pale and began leaning against a pole while waiting for her ride by herself on the sidewalk after exiting the clinic, abandoned by the security escort. That’s the kind of person who frequents 40 Days for Life in Hartford. We don’t bite.

Back in 2010, FIC quoted a NARAL Pro-Choice CT e-mail blast indicating that NARAL had plans to press for a buffer zone law in Connecticut. In their own words,

It is just this sort of protection that clients in Hartford could use to ensure access to Hartford GYN and their legal right to obtain an abortion. We will be working to secure a buffer zone in the coming year and we’ll keep you posted on our progress.

FIC’s e-mail response to NARAL’s email became the subject of a post at Capitol Watch where one commenter going by the pen name ‘Reading Comprehension’ claimed we ought to “put in a call to the Supreme Court” because “they have repeatedly settled the issue.” Four years later, we can’t help but ask Mr. or Ms. Reading Comprehension: is your phone ringing? It just might be SCOTUS!

Stay with us as we monitor the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood cases; we have now been told to expect a decision Monday morning.