As Alabama’s state legislature considered legislation to restrict abortions in the state, state Rep. John Rogers, a staunch supporter of abortion rights, made an unusual and disturbing argument. 

After insisting that abortion is about a woman’s choice to do with her body as she please, his remarks took a turn to the macabre. Here’s what he said: 

“Some kids are unwanted, so you kill them now or kill them later. You bring them into the world unwanted, unloved, then you send them to the electric chair. So you kill them now or you kill them later. But the bottom line is that I think we shouldn’t be making this decision.” 

This isn’t the first-time abortion rights advocates have attempted to make the case that some children are better off not being born. But it may be one of the most revealing anti-life sentiments ever put on record by an elected official. 

Rogers didn’t even stop there. His offensive remarks continued, “Some parents can’t handle a child with problems,” he said. “It could be retarded. It might have no arms and no legs.” 

It’s both odd and sad that a prominent African-American lawmaker such as Rogers can’t see that every life has value. Because abortion rates are disproportionately higher among minority children, Rogers’ perspective continues the endorsement of a disturbing trend that hurts the black community more than any other. Abortion is the biggest single negative force on black American growth and the number one killer of black Americans.

Beyond that, Rogers’ pessimism feels downright un-patriotic. Does our situation at birth determine our destiny? Or are we a nation comprised of story after story of success in overcoming the odds? 

Do children born to single, low-income mothers have greater obstacles to overcome? Absolutely. But, as Pro Abundant Life people, we’re committed to supporting them. Pregnancy centers exist to help mothers choose life and make healthy choices for their children as they grow. As Rogers should be well aware, a host of government, faith-based, and social services programs also exist to support women and children who need help. 

The system isn’t perfect, but to say that precious children are better off dead because they may be poor or disabled is an abhorrent reason for abortion. There’s no limit to what God can do through each of these lives. I think of Australian-born Nick Vujicic—born without arms or legs—who now has an international ministry to millions or, renowned poet Maya Angelou who suffered family instability and horrific childhood trauma. Even Apple icon Steve Jobs was an unplanned child of a single mom who was placed for adoption. 

As the pro-choice movement continues to promulgate myths that some women are inherently incapable of motherhood, we must continue to remind them of the insufficiency of this argument. Support is widely available for women who need it and children born in difficult circumstances are not destined to the electric chair. 

Despite Rogers’ feeble arguments, Alabama’s “Human Life Protection Act” passed the Alabama State House 72-26.  Thankfully, many of his fellow representatives chose to defend the value of every life instead of embracing a system that says only some lives matter.