Montana Right to Life Names New Director:
Former Director Heads to Washington D.C.
The new leader of Montana Right to Life isn't wasting anytime. In his introduction to new members, he outlined how he wants to get the anti-choice message out to the people of Montana. Gregg Trude, formerly of Florida Right to Life, wants to start a "Media for Life" program series in Montana. Trude says the venture would be based on tapes available from Michigan Right to Life and would bring the "truth" about abortion to viewers. He says the Media for Life campaign would target Montana counties with the highest number of abortions: Missoula, Yellowstone, Gallatin and Lewis and Clark.
Trude also told Montana Right to Life [MRTL] members that they needed to elect anti-choice legislators to the Montana Legislature in the upcoming elections. He also stated he hopes to get the "Unborn Victims of Violence" bill introduced during the upcoming Montana Legislature. This type of bill seeks to give rights to a fetus that are separate from the rights of the mother by imposing separate penalties for harming a fetus. In essence, a fertilized egg is given the same rights as an adult woman. Generally, these bills do not specifically mention abortion, but they are a preliminary step in separating the rights of a fetus from the rights of the mother. During the 2001 Montana Legislature, Rep. Bob Davies (R-Bozeman) introduced this type of bill. It died in committee.
Taking the Fight Online
Steven Ertelt, MRTL's former director, may be leaving the state, but he is continuing his involvement in the anti-choice movement. He is headed to Washington D.C. to become the full-time president of Women and Children First. The group acts as a clearinghouse for anti-choice information on the Internet. The group's website says that women are "maiming themselves and destroying the lives of their children." Ertelt has been listed as the group's president for some time, and the group's website still lists its mailing address as a post office box in Helena. He claims Women and Children First, along with its other websites, have reached over 600,000 people.
Ertelt will take his strident anti-choice views with him to the new organization. He believes abortion should only be allowed to prevent the death of a mother. "Unfortunately," he laments, "most politicians and candidates take the rape and incest exceptions."
In his farewell to MRTL members, he mentioned he will be attending the same church in Washington D.C. as U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns. Like Trude, Ertelt mentioned the importance of electing anti-choice legislators to the Montana Legislature. He also mentioned the need for the same Unborn Victims of Violence bill that MRTL's new director supports. Ertelt also stressed the need to pass a "Pharmacist's Conscience Clause." This legislation would allow pharmacists to refuse filling drug prescriptions, including contraceptive drugs, based on religious or ethical views. This puts patients, especially in rural areas, at the mercy of a pharmacist's personal beliefs. Rep. Davies (R-Bozeman) also sponsored this bill in 2001, and it also died in committee.