Montana Approves Parental-Consent Law

Voters in Montana overwhelmingly approved a law Tuesday requiring parental notification before any girl under age 16 can receive an abortion, WORLD News Service reports. Seventy percent of citizens voted for Ref. 120, compared to only 30 percent opposed to it. "Montana voters have wisely passed this common-sense law to ensure that parents can protect their daughters from abortionists who prey on upon vulnerable young girls," said Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Steven H. Aden. "The voice of an abortionist should not be allowed more weight than the voice of parents when their daughter is pregnant." Those who violate the law can receive fines of $500 and/or six months in prison, while those who coerce a minor into getting an abortion could receive a $1,000 fine, a year-long prison sentence, or both. To date, 38 states have passed laws requiring parental notification or consent before teen girls can have abortions, according to the Americans United for Life.