By John Michener

The human backbone begins developing during the first few weeks of an embryo's existence in the womb. Like most characteristics of human beings, the backbone continues to develop, even after birth. What I have not been able to find in any biology texts, however, is why most political leaders shed their backbones upon being elected to office.

Fortunately for Oklahomans, many of our legislators are showing signs of growing new backbones. For example, in the 2015 session, our legislature passed two new pro-life measures.

The first bill increases the mandatory waiting period before an abortion from two days to three. This measure provides dads, parents, counselors, and concerned advocates with critical additional time to intervene and pray for women with unwanted pregnancies. It also provides more time for the woman's conscience to speak to her.

The second bill is known as the Oklahoma Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act. This act bans dismemberment abortions, defined as the purposeful killing of an unborn child by dismembering him while alive and unborn. Based on figures from the Guttmacher Institute, the research arm of Planned Parenthood, there are approximately 392 abortions of this type per year in Oklahoma.

Both of these acts should be celebrated, and we thank our legislators and governor for enacting them. However, passage of these acts is evidence of merely a tiny neural tube in our political leaders, not a fully developed backbone. There are still more than 5,000 babies per year in Oklahoma that need to be protected and saved.

We believe our leaders will continue to develop backbones, especially if encouraged and supported by the citizens in a major election year like 2016. To that end, Oklahomans United for Life (OUL) and the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC) have joined a coalition that is promoting a bill in 2016 which would effectively end all elective abortions in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Legislature has the authority to determine licensing standards in the state. Therefore, they can instruct the state licensing board not to license any doctor who performs elective abortions. We have already secured the support of several members of the Oklahoma House and Senate. We are now asking everyone across the country to petition Oklahoma legislators to support this measure. You can sign the online petition at: www.protectlifeok.com

Over forty years ago, no one was willing to do what it took to save unborn children from a rogue U.S. Supreme Court. After forty years of genocide, it is time to cleanse our land. When we meet opposition from the courts once again, a godly, principled stand should be our obvious response. The elected leaders who pass this act, who represent the will of the people, who speak for two branches of our state government, and who want to do the right thing, should not kowtow to the illegal, illogical, immoral, and insane opinions of courts which want to allow the killing of innocent children. Our legislative and executive leaders should ignore such opinions and respond as the first apostles did when they were dragged into court: "We must obey God rather than man."

It is high time we remember that any law or court opinion which violates God's law is no law at all. It is not legal, it is not binding, and it has no authority. Therefore we all -- and that includes the Oklahoma governor, attorney general, legislators, and law enforcement personnel -- should ignore such court opinions.

To our elected officials: We urge you to steel yourselves for the fight. We are behind you, and as you lead this charge to protect innocent humans in obedience to God, hear the cry of the people: "Legally we can. Morally we must! "

Petition to the Oklahoma Legislature

www.protectlifeok.com

Whereas we agree that abortion is the taking of innocent, unborn life;

And that the taking of innocent, unborn life should therefore not be permitted except in the rare instance of saving the life of the mother;

And whereas the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma grants to the State Legislature the authority to determine standards for granting medical licenses, and that such authority is codified in Title 59 and 63 of the Oklahoma code, the Statutes for Medical Licensure and Management;

And whereas such authority and power is derived from the authority and powers not granted to the federal government but reserved to the states, as specified in the 10th amendment of the U.S. Constitution;

And whereas the right to life is a fundamental right granted by God and is part of the Organic laws of the United States as written in the Declaration of Independence;

We, the undersigned, strongly endorse, support and call on our State Legislature to take the following action to end the practice of abortion in Oklahoma except in the case of saving the life of the mother:

Amending the current standards for granting medical licenses to prohibit the granting of medical licenses to anyone who performs or participates in the performance of abortions, except in the rare case of saving the life of the mother.