The Illinois abortion statistics for 2006 generated virtually no coverage when released by the Illinois Department of Public Health on November 30th. Given the recent trend of decreasing abortions in many states, including Illinois, the jump of over 3,000 abortions should raise some questions. (Check the annual totals at Illinois Abortion Statistics: 1973-Current)
The number of abortions in Illinois for 2006 reached 46,467, compared to a 2005 total of 43,409. The increase of 3,058 broke down to 2,003 committed on Illinois residents and 1,055 committed on women from out-of-state or of unknown residency.
Though abortions went up in every age category for Illinois residents, 64% of the 2,003 increase came among women who were 20-29 years old. While total abortions for Illinois residents rose by 5.2%, the increase for the 20-29 age category was 6.2%. That compares to an increase of 2.4% for 15-19 year-olds.
Given the study (January 2007 edition of the Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology) done by morning-after pill advocates showing that increased use of "emergency contraception" failed to reduce abortion rates in other nations, and often led to more abortions, might these abortion increases be connected to more attempted reliance on the morning-after pill?
The 1,055 abortions committed on women from out-of-state or of unknown residency represents an increase of 21%, bringing total abortions in these categories to 6,055. In 2004, this total was 3,514 so there has been a very rapid increase in abortions done on non-residents.
That level of traffic from out-of-state again demonstrates the need for enforcement of the Illinois parental notice law. All surrounding states have parental notice or consent laws in force. Illinois abortion providers are being used as a means to subvert parental involvement laws of surrounding states. The Illinois law is still awaiting a decision from Federal Judge David Coar on removal of the now outdated injunction that prevents its enforcement.
Source: Illinois Right to Life Committee
Every time we are tempted to be alarmed at the rising
statistics, let us never forget that these are 46,000 precious
and infinitely valuable (in God's sight) lives that were
brutally destroyed by abortionists' knives!
An increase in rates of abortion is never good news.
Without enforcement of parental notification laws in Illinois, and with the recent controversial opening of Planned Parenthood's Aurora abortion clinic, surely rates for abortions in that state will increase even more.