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Utah’s trigger law is an important step forward in saving the lives of Utah’s unborn babies, as it makes ELECTIVE abortions illegal. This article seeks to speak to medical professionals and citizens alike with concerns surrounding Utah’s trigger law.

What is Utah’s Trigger Law?

In short, the definition of abortion in the trigger law is the “intentional termination of human pregnancy after implantation of a fertilized ovum” [1]. It is important to note that the definition of abortion in Utah’s trigger law is not the same as the definition of abortion used in medical terminology.

When is Abortion Permitted Under the Trigger Law?

• A woman may receive an abortion to save her life or to prevent “irreversible impairment of major bodily function” [1].

• A woman may have an ectopic pregnancy removed

• A woman may receive an abortion if she was raped.

• A woman may receive an abortion if her pregnancy was due to incest.

• A woman may receive an abortion if her child has “a defect that causes an individual to live in a mentally vegetative state” [1].

When is Abortion Illegal Under the Trigger Law?

• Elective abortions are illegal.

• Abortions due to down syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, or any other defect “that does not cause an individual to live in a mentally vegetative state” [1] are illegal.

Why Support Utah’s Trigger Law on Abortion?

Upon the overturn of Roe vs. Wade, Utah was equipped with a trigger law which makes elective abortions illegal, while allowing exceptions for medical reasons, rape, incest, and circumstances that would cause a child “to live in a mentally vegetative state [1].” This trigger law went into effect the day that Roe fell. Planned Parenthood and the ACLU subsequently sued the state of Utah and Judge Andrew Stone placed an injunction on the trigger law.

The trigger law has faced a lot of opposition from those who want elective abortions to remain legal in Utah. The trigger law has been pulled apart by abortion activists in an attempt to persuade Utahns that it is not the right move for us to make. However, this law aligns with many Utahns' opinions about the legality of abortion: it should be legal in very rare circumstances. It also closely aligns with the policy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which states: “the Church opposes elective abortion for personal or social convenience, and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions [2].”

According to Deseret News, some doctors, pharmacists, and prosecutors feel that the law is vague and are fearful of consequences should they interpret the law incorrectly [3]. In turn, some patients are afraid that they won’t receive life-saving care should a doctor have a second-degree felony on his mind [4]. Statistically, only 6 of 2,776 patients in 2019 received an abortion for “maternal life endangerment [5].”* Doing the math, that’s only 0.00216% of all abortions that occurred in 2019.

Despite potential issues with the law, Senate President Stuart Adams observed that all legislation needs fine-tuning. He recommends that we put the trigger law in place saying, “It’s important to have actual factual problems rather than theoretical problems [3].” This will allow us to adjust the law in a practical manner.

The Trigger Law is Utah’s Best Step Forward

It is time to change the way we think about unplanned pregnancies. They are not to be feared, but embraced. The trigger law gives us the opportunity to do just that by eliminating elective abortions while still providing protections for women. We must consider every member of the family–including both the mother and her preborn child. By adding your voice of support for Utah's trigger law, you're choosing to save generations.

The pro-life movement needs your voice now more than ever. Consider volunteering with Pro-Life Utah or sharing our content on social media.

Sources:

1. https://le.utah.gov/~2020/bills/static/sb0174.html

2. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/official-statement/abortion

3. https://www.deseret.com/utah/2022/7/13/23195392/questions-swirl-how-utah-will-actually-enforce-its-trigger-abortion-ban-collateral-damage-roe-v-wade

4. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2022/08/02/im-absolutely-terrified-getting/

5. https://vitalrecords.health.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/Abortions-2019-Utah-Vital-Statistics.pdf

   
   

*This is from Utah Vital Statistics most recent report on abortion data