by Kerby Anderson

Pro-life groups and legislators wonder what they can do next in light of the Supreme Court decision last week. The 5-3 decision that struck down the legislation in Texas left little room for any future pro-life legislation.

The court’s ruling prevented the state of Texas from regulating the health and safety standards of abortion clinics. It also struck down the common sense requirement that a physician performing an abortion also have admitting privileges in a hospital within 30 miles of where the procedure is performed.

The majority on the court argued that it was an undue burden on women to require abortion clinics be governed by the same rules as ambulatory surgical centers. And in throwing out the law, they also threw out the requirement that abortion clinics comply with basic fire-safety standards.

Consider the irony for a moment. Progressives in our government want to regulate nearly every industry, except the abortion industry. And the high court seems content to let them do it. We have regulations on the air we breathe and the water we drink. We have regulations about the light bulbs you can have in your home. Many are now working hard to regulate guns out of existence without even having to repeal the Second Amendment. But when it comes to killing the unborn in abortion clinics, they don’t want any limits or any rules.

It is difficult to see what pro-life legislators can do until the makeup of the Supreme Court changes. The five justices have effectively ruled against just about any common sense regulation of abortion clinics.

That is why the November election will be crucial. Three of the five in the majority are due for retirement. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 83 years old. Justice Anthony Kennedy will turn 80 this summer, and Justice Stephen Breyer will turn 78 this summer. It is clear that the next president will determine the pro-life future.