New abortion and reproductive health clinic set to come to Pueblo amid opposition
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Pueblo County residents in need of an abortion currently have to drive nearly an hour to access reproductive healthcare in Colorado Springs. This, however, is about to change as a new healthcare facility is in the process of moving into the city.
Clinics for Abortion and Reproductive Excellence (CARE) is an organization that offers abortions. According to the clinic, the Pueblo location will provide abortions for the first and second trimesters. The clinic will also be providing birth control.
CARE said it's currently under contract with a new building, but they're still in the renovation process.
There are CARE clinics in two other states currently, Maryland and Nebraska. According to officials with CARE, their patient volume has increased drastically, and the distance patients travel for their abortions has also increased.
According to CARE's website, it could no longer meet the volume demand in Nebraska. This, in conjunction with Nebraska's legislators discussing a 12-week abortion ban, CARE has decided to open a clinic in Colorado to help patients struggling with accessing reproductive healthcare in their states. The clinic, while in another state, will still limit the distance patients will need to travel for an abortion.
CARE officials say they want to ensure that they can continue giving reproductive access to the midwest if the Nebraska abortion ban passes.
The chief operating officer for CARE, Lee Carhart, said the team is very excited to come to Pueblo.
"We have staff members that will be moving to Pueblo, and we're excited to improve the area that we're in and to help anybody that's in the area that needs our assistance," said Carhart.
Not everyone is in support of the new reproductive healthcare clinic. Tamra Axworthy, the CEO of ACPC Women's Clinic, believes the clinic isn't "necessary."
"I don't believe in any exceptions, but I understand those who are forced to make that decision and everything that goes into that decision," said Axworthy." I do feel that this is going to be bad for our city."
Axworthy, who identified herself as in support of the pro-life movement, believes Pueblo isn't the place for the reproductive healthcare clinic.
"The 14th Amendment is equal rights under the law. I want that both for the women and for the unborn babies in this community," said Axworthy.
The 14th Amendment refers to citizenship, equal protection, and other rights of citizens. According to Congress, Section 1 of Due Process of Law states:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
This, however, does not specify fetuses. Earlier in October, the Supreme Court declined to decide whether or not a fetus should have constitutional rights.
Right now, it's currently unclear when the CARE clinic would open in Pueblo. The owners are still renovating the building.
