On eve of Roe v. Wade anniversary, Gov. Rick Perry vows to continue anti-abortion crusade

Republican Gov. Rick Perry of Texas blasted the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision on Monday, indicating he will continue to push for anti-abortion laws.

"Roe v. Wade paved the way for the loss of more than 54 million innocent lives, with more than a million added to that total with each passing year," he said in a statement on the eve of the ruling's 40th anniversary. "This catastrophic loss of life is a grim testament to judicial activism, and a tragic stain on our national conscience."

"In Texas, we've worked hard to strengthen our abortion laws to the greatest extent possible under Roe v. Wade," the governor added. "We will continue working to empower families and protect our children's future, until the day abortion is nothing more than a tragic footnote in our nation's history."

Perry has asked Texas lawmakers to approve a so-called fetal pain bill. The proposed law would prohibit abortion once a fetus is capable of experiencing pain. Citing disputed research, pro-life advocates claim a fetus can feel pain after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The fetal pain bill would run counter to Roe v. Wade, which upheld a woman’s right to have an abortion within the first 24 weeks of her pregnancy. Courts have blocked similar fetal pain laws in Georgia, Oklahoma and Arizona from taking effect.

Perry has also called for more regulations on abortion clinics, following the example of states like Mississippi. The new regulations would potentially force a number of abortion clinics to rebuild or shut down.

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[Image via AFP]