Some in the movement call the Gonzales v. Carhart decision empty, while others call it a victory.
Michael New, a columnist for National Review and an assitant professor at the University of Alabama, wrote an excellent analysis on why the decision was good..
Some excerpts:
Now some critics may correctly point out that this decision by itself may not have a large impact on national abortion trends......Regardless, incremental legislation often serves an important informational purpose. Many people pay little attention to politics and are unaware of the permissive polices the United States has regarding abortion. Many do not know that in many states a minor can obtain an abortion with out her parents' knowledge. Furthermore, many do not know that a woman can obtain a legal abortion during her ninth month of pregnancy. As such, it is undeniable that the national campaign to end partial-birth abortion gained a considerable amount of publicity and was effective in moving the general public toward a more pro-life direction. (my emphasis)
New also speculates that the debate over the ban could have potentially contributed to the decline in abortions during the 1990s.
Indeed, during the 1990s the abortion rates fall the fastest in states that were passing lots of pro-life legislation. However, abortion numbers fell in almost every state -- even states that did not pass any pro-life laws. There is a good chance that the national campaign to end partial-birth abortion played a large role in this nationwide decline.
While Gonzales v. Carhart didn't end abortion, nevertheless it is a victory on many levels.
Finally, I would take New's speculation even futher and argue that there is a good chance that pro-life efforts have had an impact on reducing abortion since the mid 80s. While the table below does not prove causation, it nevertheless shows an interesting trend of increasing pro-life efforts and decreasing abortion rates. (Read the rest of the story for the table....)
| Year | Event | Abortion Rate | Birth Rate |
| Mid 80s | Increase in abstinence educational efforts | ||
| The number of pregnancy care centers grows | |||
| 1986 | Birth rate increases in teens | 42.3 | 50.2 |
| The Silent Scream a graphic film which shows an actual abortion via ultrasound, airs on TV. | |||
| 1987 | First Life Chain Held | 41.8 | 50.6 |
| 1988 | Up swell of anti-abortion activism most notably from Operation Rescue | 43.5 | 53 |
| 1991 | Life Chains increase to 373 around the country | 37.4 | 61.8 |
| Vita Caring Foundation ads air on TV in Kansas City, MO | |||
| Justice Clarence Nominated and Confirmed to the US Supreme Court (Abortion was a large issue.) | |||
| Hard Truth video which shows bodies of aborted children debuts. Shown in Evangelical Churches and by pro-life groups around the nation | |||
| 1992 | Life, What a Beautiful Choice commercials appear on TV (DeMoss Foundation) | 35.2 | 60.3 |
| 800 Life Chains around the country | |||
| Planned Parenthood vs. Casey: State restrictions upheld | |||
| 1995 | Teens delay sex - decline in sexually active males 15-19 | 29.4 | 56 |
| 1996 | Partial Birth Abortion Debate Goes National | 28.6 | 53.5 |
| 1997 | Federal Abstinence only funding begins | 27.1 | 51.3 |
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