Political kit

Sample cover letter

 

Below is sample text for a letter that can be sent to political leaders:

The Honorable (Full Name) 
U.S. Senate Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20510

or ...

The Honorable (Full Name) 
U.S. House of Representatives Address
Washington, D.C. 20515

or ...

Political Leader's Name
Address
City, State, ZIP

Dear Senator (OR Representative OR Leader’s Name):

New studies show that most abortions are unwanted or coerced, and more traumatic and dangerous than anyone knew. There need not be a gender gap in voting among women for pro-life candidates. Polls show that opposition to abortion-on-demand among women is growing. Polls also show that you can unite America’s vast majority behind a pro-life message that is also passionately pro-woman.

The Rhetoric of Choice Hides the Reality of Coercion

Published studies document the problem of unwanted, coerced and even forced abortions, and the fact that abortion is a traumatic experience for most women and much more dangerous than most Americans realize.

• 64% of women having abortions reported feeling pressured by others to abort.1
• Coercion can escalate to violence. Homicide is the leading killer of pregnant women.2
• Even though the majority felt rushed, 67% of aborting women received no counseling beforehand.1
• 84% received inadequate counseling.1
• 31% suffered health complications after abortion.1
• 65% suffered multiple symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.1
• Women who abort are 3.5 times more likely to die within a year compared to women who give birth.3
• Suicide rates are 6-7 times higher compared to women who give birth.4

The circumstances surrounding abortion vary, but the trauma of the experience and post-abortion injury, grief and death is all too real. Over 50 million women and men have lost a child to abortion. It’s time to end the injustice of unwanted, coerced or even forced abortions. It’s time to offer women full information, authentic support and real choices. It’s time to unify a divided nation and open the door to healing.

Pro-Woman/Pro-Life

Research indicates that most American women oppose abortion on demand.5 You’ll unify Americans by compassionately articulating a vision for ending abortion in a way that helps women.

1. “I am pro-woman and pro-life. I support legislation that advocates for authentic women’s rights and protects women from being pressured into unwanted, unsafe abortions.” Women have the right to safe health care, full information and freedom from unwanted or coerced abortions.
 2. “New studies show that abortion is even more traumatic and dangerous than we realized.” Current research published in academic journals documents serious post-abortion complications, including depression, infertility, cancer and significantly higher death rates.
 3. “Abortion injures both women and unborn children. My goal is to help both, not just one at the expense of the other.”
 

Compassionate, Proactive Leadership

Take a look at the enclosed key messages, fact sheets and other materials. You can also find find surprising new research, first-hand stories and more information at www.UnChoice.info. You can address the concern of millions of compassionate Americans by stating your support for authentically pro-woman legislation that:

• Requires abortionists to screen for coerced and unwanted abortions;
• Guarantees the right of women to make free and fully informed decisions;
• Requires physicians to screen patients for factors that place them at higher risk of physical or psychological complications after abortion;
• Calls for further research on the physical and psychological complications of abortion; and
• Expands the rights of women to compensation for physical or psychological injury resulting from abortion.
 

Challenge those who care more about protecting the abortion industry’s profits than they do about protecting authentic women’s rights.

We will support political leaders who will lead Americans into a unified pro-woman/pro-life future.

Sincerely,
(Pro-Life Leader)



Citations

1. VM Rue et. al., “Induced abortion and traumatic stress: A preliminary comparison of American and Russian women,” Medical Science Monitor 10(10): SR5-16 (2004).
2. IL Horton and D Cheng, “Enhanced Surveillance for Pregnancy-Associated Mortality-Maryland, 1993-1998,” JAMA 285(11): 1455-1459 (2001); see also J. Mcfarlane et. al., "Abuse During Pregnancy and Femicide: Urgent Implications for Women's Health," Obstetrics & Gynecology 100: 27-36 (2002); and the Special Report, “Forced Abortion in America” at www.unchoice.info/resources.htm.
3. M Gissler et. al., “Pregnancy Associated Deaths in Finland 1987-1994 -- definition problems and benefits of record linkage,” Acta Obsetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica 76:651-657, 1997. This study examined death rates following abortion and childbirth for one year after pregnancy. A study of U.S. women that examined death rates after abortion or childbirth over an eight year period found that women who aborted had a 62 percent higher risk of death compared to women who gave birth. See DC Reardon et. al., “Deaths Associated With Pregnancy Outcome: A Record Linkage Study of Low Income Women,” Southern Medical Journal 95(8):834-41 (Aug. 2002).
4. Gissler, Hemminki & Lonnqvist, "Suicides after pregnancy in Finland, 1987-94: register linkage study," British Journal of Medicine 313:1431-4, (1996); and M Gissler, “Injury deaths, suicides and homicides associated with pregnancy, Finland 1987-2000,” European J. Public Health 15(5):459-63 (2005). These studies examined suicide rates following abortion and childbirth for one year after pregnancy. A U.S. study that examined suicide rates for a period of eight years following abortion or childbirth found that women who aborted were 2.5 times more likely to commit suicide than women who gave birth. See DC Reardon et. al., “Deaths Associated With Pregnancy Outcome: A Record Linkage Study of Low Income Women,” Southern Medical Journal 95(8):834-41 (Aug. 2002).
5. “Is Your Mother’s Feminism Dead? New Agenda for Women Revealed in Landmark Two-Year Study,” news release from the Center for the Advancement of Women (www.advancewomen.org), June 24, 2003; and Steve Ertelt, “Pro-Abortion Poll Shows Majority of Women Are Pro-Life,” LifeNews.com, June 25, 2003.
 

for post-abortion counseling referrals, call 1-877-HOPE-4-ME or click here.
copyright 2006 Elliot Institute. All rights reserved.