HM 14

Page 1

A MEMORIAL

CONDEMNING VIOLENCE DIRECTED AT ABORTION AND CONTRACEPTIVE

CLINICS; COMMENDING LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR ITS WORK TO END THE

VIOLENCE.

WHEREAS, since January 22, 1973, the right to a safe and

legal abortion has been the law in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the United States congress passed the Freedom

of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994 in May 1994; and

WHEREAS, in 2006, there were four hundred seventy-four

incidents of violence directed at abortion clinics nationally;

and

WHEREAS, there have been one hundred seventy-four

incidents of arson and ninety-four incidents of attempted

arson directed at abortion clinics in the last thirty years;

and

WHEREAS, there have been one thousand three hundred six

incidents of vandalism on abortion clinics in the last thirty

years; and

WHEREAS, abortion clinics in Albuquerque have been the

target of arson in March 1999, May 1999 and more recently, in

December 2007; and

WHEREAS, the December 6, 2007 arson of an Albuquerque

abortion clinic destroyed the clinic; and

WHEREAS, the violence continued on December 25, 2007

HM 14

Page 2

when there was an arson attempt on another Albuquerque

abortion clinic; and

WHEREAS, also on December 25, 2007, a contraceptive

clinic in Albuquerque was vandalized;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that violence

directed at abortion or contraceptive clinics shall never be

tolerated in the state of New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal, state and local

law enforcement agencies be commended on their collaboration

and quick response in arresting two of the suspects in the

December violence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state support the

continued collaboration of all law enforcement agencies

leading to the arrest, indictment and prosecution of these and

any future suspects; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor and to the department of public

safety for distribution to appropriate federal, state and

local law enforcement agencies.