SPRINGFIELD - While Illinois has some of the toughest laws to protect innocent animals from human cruelty, they're not nearly as protective of human babies still in their mothers' wombs.
The 2018 U.S. Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report issued annually by the Animal Legal Defense Fund ranks Illinois as the safest state for animals in the nation.
"Holding strong at the top for eleven years, Illinois has maintained its rank as first in the nation for animal protection laws," the report says. Illinois is followed by Oregon (2), Maine (3), Colorado (4), and Massachusetts (5).
Among its tough animal protection laws, Illinois holds felony penalties for animal cruelty, neglect, fighting, abandonment and sexual assault. Illinois also allows courts to restrict ownership of animals after conviction.
In comparison, Illinois abortion advocates boast the access the state allows for abortion as being the most lenient in the Midwest. State laws to protect human babies still within their mothers' wombs are non-existent. The state's only restriction currently is parents being notified before a minor undergoes an abortion.
Last week, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker pushed forward the implementation of the state's taxpayers funding Medicaid and state employee abortions, despite a lawsuit filed against it. Pritzker said he and those standing with him had the goal of Illinois being the nation's most progressive concerning women's reproductive rights.
"I am confident that Governor Pritzker, and his entire administration, will protect Illinois as an oasis for reproductive health care, not only for Illinoisans, but for all people in surrounding states who must travel to receive the care they need,” Planned Parenthood of Illinois' CEO Jennifer Welch said at the press conference with Governor Pritzker.
Illinois Family Institute's Executive Director David E. Smith says the irony of being the safest state for animals but not for human babies is disturbing. The state's decision makers are purposely denying science with their refusal to acknowledge that babies in the womb are alive and deserve to be protected.
"The Left Wing activists are utter hypocrites. They are quick to label conservatives as science deniers, while they refuse to acknowledge scientific empirical evidence that human life is in the womb and should be protected," he said.
