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Sunday, Mar 28, 2010

Posted on Fri, Mar. 26, 2010

Kansas abortion number in 2009 was the lowest since 1990

By ALAN BAVLEY

The Kansas City Star

The shooting death of Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller may have contributed to a dramatic drop in the number of abortions performed in Kansas last year.

The 9,472 abortions in 2009 were the lowest reported number since 1990, according to preliminary data released Friday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. There were 1,171, or about 11 percent, fewer abortions last year than the year before, the largest one-year decline in more than a decade.

“It really comes as no surprise when you lose an abortion provider very suddenly,” said Sarah Gillooly, public affairs manager for Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri. “The tragic death of Dr. Tiller was an enormous loss for women in Kansas.”

Tiller, whose clinic was a frequent target of anti-abortion protesters, was shot to death in May while ushering at the church he attended in Wichita. A jury convicted Scott Roeder of first-degree murder. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 1. Roeder is requesting acquittal or a new trial.

Tiller was known for performing late-term abortions. His clinic attracted women from Kansas and other states.

The new Kansas statistics show that 121 late-term abortions � those at 22 weeks or more gestation � were performed in the state llast year. That was fewer than half the 293 late-term abortions performed in 2007, the most recent year available for comparison.

Gillooly said Wichita had no abortion providers and no doctors performed late-term abortions in Kansas.

Tiller’s death also may have dissuaded other doctors in Kansas from performing abortions, said Warren Hern, an abortion doctor in Boulder, Colo., and a friend of Tiller’s.

“Why should they risk their lives doing it?” Hern said. “The women of Kansas have less access to abortion services than they had before. I think the number of abortions in Kansas will continue to drop.”

Tiller’s death is not the only reason for the drop in abortions, said David Gittrich, state development director of Kansans for Life.

“The pro-life movement has been spending decades educating the public about what abortion is,” Gittrich said. “People are beginning to figure out that abortion is not a good solution to unplanned pregnancy. The stigma about abortion has made it less acceptable.”

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 because of my sins. I believe you died on the cross to take away my sins

 and to take me to heaven. Jesus, I ask you now to come into my heart and

 take away my sins and give me eternal life. http://www.armyofgod.com