Comanche County, Texas · A Community Call to Action
It Is Time for Comanche to Become a Sanctuary City for the Unborn
Every life—from the moment of fertilization—deserves protection. Our city and county have the legal authority, the community support, and the moral obligation to act.
The Issue Before Us
Why This Matters for Comanche
When Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, abortion facilities across Texas were required to stop performing abortions. Rather than ending abortion, many simply relocated — just across the Texas border into New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas — specifically to continue serving Texas residents.
Today, abortion clinics in Albuquerque, NM openly report that 85–90% of their patients are from Texas. Organizations called “abortion trafficking funds” — groups like the Lilith Fund, Texas Equal Access (TEA) Fund, and Fund Texas Choice — operate inside Texas, paying for transportation, flights, hotel stays, and other travel costs to move pregnant Texas mothers across state lines for elective abortions.
“Right now, throughout the State of Texas, women are being trafficked across our borders by abortion traffickers funded by abortion trafficking organizations still operating in our state.”
— Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Senator Charles Perry, and 18 other TX Senators & RepresentativesThis is not an abstract issue. It is happening in our state, to women and children in communities like ours — and Comanche County is positioned along routes used to reach New Mexico. When the majority of abortions happening in New Mexico are on Texas residents, a county like Comanche cannot afford to remain silent.
The Proposed Ordinance
What a “Sanctuary City for the Unborn” Ordinance Does
The current Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn (SCFTU) ordinance — the version proposed for Comanche and Comanche County — puts six core protections in place. City ordinances cover incorporated areas; county ordinances cover the unincorporated areas of the county.
- 1Prohibits performing elective abortions and aiding or abetting elective abortions within the jurisdiction.
- 2Prohibits elective abortions on residents of the political subdivision — regardless of where the abortion takes place.
- 3Prohibits abortion trafficking through the political subdivision — meaning transporting a pregnant woman through our city or county for the purpose of obtaining an elective abortion.
- 4Prohibits abortion-inducing drugs from being mailed or brought into the political subdivision.
- 5Prohibits criminal organizations from doing business inside the political subdivision.
- 6Prohibits the transport and disposal of remains of unborn children killed by an elective abortion outside Texas from being brought through or disposed of in our jurisdiction.
Does This Ordinance Penalize Women?
No. The ordinance is explicit: civil action may not be brought against the woman upon whom the abortion was performed, induced, or attempted — nor against a pregnant woman who intends or seeks to abort her unborn child. The penalty falls on those who profit from and perform the abortion, and those who traffic pregnant women.
How Is It Enforced?
Just like the Texas Heartbeat Act — through a private civil enforcement mechanism. Any person (other than the city or county itself, or its officers and employees) has standing to file a civil lawsuit against any person or entity that violates the ordinance. The city and county do not directly enforce it and bear no criminal liability.
What Comanche County Voters Believe
The Data Speaks Clearly
Comanche County voters have consistently and overwhelmingly expressed their pro-life convictions at the ballot box across multiple elections and party primaries.
| Election | Proposition | Pro-Life Vote |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 GOP Primary | “I believe abortion should be abolished in Texas.” | 67.63% (1,565 of 2,314) |
| 2022 GOP Primary | “Texas should enact a constitutional amendment to defend the sanctity of innocent human life… from fertilization until natural death.” | 89.39% (1,861 of 2,082) |
| 2026 GOP Primary — Prop. 4 | “Texas should require its public schools to teach that life begins at fertilization.” | 86.97% (2,130 of 2,449) |
| 2026 GOP Primary — Prop. 5 | “Texas should ban gender, sexuality, and reproductive clinics and services in K–12 schools.” | 92.92% (2,298 of 2,473) |
| 2024 Presidential | Voted for Donald J. Trump | 86.78% (5,435 votes) |
The voters of Comanche County have made their convictions clear. It is time for local leadership to align with the people they represent.
The Proposed City of Comanche Ordinance
What the Ordinance Actually Declares
The proposed ordinance for the City of Comanche begins with clear findings by the City Council, including:
“Human life begins at conception. Abortion is a murderous act of violence that purposefully and knowingly terminates an unborn human life. Unborn human beings are entitled to the full and equal protection of the laws that prohibit violence against other human beings.”
— Proposed City of Comanche SCFTU Ordinance, Findings SectionThe ordinance also formally declares Comanche a Sanctuary City for the Unborn and states that abortion at all times and at all stages of pregnancy is an unlawful act, unless performed to save the life of the pregnant woman in a medical emergency.
Key Definitions in the Ordinance
The ordinance carefully defines its terms to avoid overreach and ensure clarity:
- “Abortion” does not include IVF, fertility treatments, Plan B, morning-after pills, IUDs, or emergency contraception. It also does not include acts performed to save the life of the unborn child, remove a dead unborn child, or address an ectopic pregnancy.
- “Elective abortion” means any abortion not performed in response to a medical emergency.
- “Unborn child” means an individual organism of the species Homo sapiens in any stage of gestation from fertilization until live birth.
- “Medical emergency” is defined as a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy, certified by a physician.
The cities of Comanche (pop. 4,294), De Leon (pop. 2,433), and Gustine (pop. 457) could all pass city ordinances. Comanche County (pop. 13,594) could also pass a county ordinance covering the unincorporated area of the county.
Is This Legal?
The Legal Foundation Is Solid
Multiple layers of Texas law and federal court rulings confirm that cities and counties in Texas have the legal authority to pass these ordinances.
Texas Government Code § 2273.005
During the 86th Texas Legislative Session, the Legislature explicitly stated: “This chapter may not be construed to restrict a municipality or county from prohibiting abortion.”
Texas Government Code § 311.036(b)
During the 87th Session (Texas Heartbeat Act), the Legislature further clarified: “A statute may not be construed to restrict a political subdivision from regulating or prohibiting abortion in a manner that is at least as stringent as the laws of this state unless the statute explicitly states that political subdivisions are prohibited from regulating or prohibiting abortion in the manner described by the statute.”
Planned Parenthood v. City of Lubbock (2021)
Federal Judge James Wesley Hendrix ruled: “Contrary to plaintiffs’ argument, the Texas legislature has issued multiple statutes indicating that the [Lubbock City] ordinance is not preempted.”
“In my opinion, from a legal standpoint, SCFTU has been very thorough in drafting the ordinance they proposed. I believe, as do many others, that it will stand up to scrutiny in court should it be challenged.”
— Trey Poage, King County Attorney, after King County adopted the ordinance 4-0 in 2026County attorneys and district attorneys across Texas — from Cochran County to Dawson County, Shelby County to Hood County — have reviewed this ordinance and confirmed its legal standing. None of the over 97 jurisdictions that have passed it have been successfully sued.
A Word to Those Who Are Quiet
Silence Is Not Neutral
To Be Silent Is to Stand With the Opposition
If you are pro-life in your heart but have remained quiet — in your home, your workplace, your civic life, or your faith community — please hear this clearly: silence does not protect the unborn. It emboldens those who would destroy them.
Every voice that stays silent on this issue is, in effect, a voice that the opposition gets to count as an absence of resistance. There are no neutral positions when innocent lives are at stake. The time for quiet conviction has passed. Comanche County voters have proven, by the tens of thousands of ballots cast, that this community believes life begins at conception. Those votes must now translate into action.
Cities and counties all around Texas — many smaller than Comanche — have found the courage to act. Mayors, city councilmen, county commissioners, and judges from Waskom to Big Sandy to Hood County have stepped forward and said: “We will not let this happen in our community.”
“Mainly, I think to myself, ‘It’s the right thing to do. Why kill unborn babies?’ It was the right thing to do. It just was the right thing to do. If there’s trafficking going on, nobody in their right mind would vote against it. You got to have faith that God is going to tell you what to do when you need to do it, and this is one of those times.”
— Bruce Vaughn, O’Donnell City Councilman, after their unanimous 5-0 vote in April 2026We are calling on every believer, every citizen, every parent and grandparent in Comanche County: break the silence. Contact your city council representatives. Attend your city council meetings. Let your voice be heard. Let the record show that Comanche stood for life.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this ordinance be challenged in court?
It may be. But over 97 jurisdictions have passed similar ordinances, and none have been overturned. The ordinance is backed by state law (Tex. Gov’t Code §§ 2273.005 and 311.036(b)), affirmed by the Texas Attorney General’s office, and supported by a 2021 federal court ruling in Planned Parenthood v. City of Lubbock. Multiple county attorneys — including attorneys who initially had concerns — have reviewed the ordinance and concluded it is legally defensible. Organizations including the former Texas Solicitor General have offered to represent jurisdictions at no cost should any lawsuit arise.
Does this mean women could be arrested for seeking an abortion?
Absolutely not. The ordinance is explicit: no civil action may be brought against the woman upon whom the abortion was performed or the pregnant woman who seeks to abort her unborn child. The ordinance places all liability on the abortion industry and those who profit from trafficking pregnant women — not on the women themselves.
What about cases of rape, incest, or medical emergencies?
The ordinance specifically prohibits civil actions brought by any person who impregnated a woman seeking an abortion through an act of rape, sexual assault, or incest. Medical emergencies are explicitly exempted — any abortion performed or induced in response to a life-threatening medical emergency is not prohibited by this ordinance.
Does this affect IVF, contraception, or Plan B?
No. The definitions in the ordinance explicitly exclude IVF and all fertility treatments, Plan B, morning-after pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and any other type of contraception or emergency contraception. These are not affected by the ordinance in any way.
Is Abiding Life Fellowship running this effort?
No. Abiding Life Fellowship is not organizing, leading, or managing the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn initiative in Comanche. This page exists because we believe it is our duty as a faith community to inform and equip our congregation and our community. The effort is led by the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn initiative (sanctuarycitiesfortheunborn.com), founded by Mark Lee Dickson. We support it fully and encourage every member of our community — regardless of church affiliation — to engage with this issue.
What can I actually do to help?
Several practical steps: (1) Pray for the county, the cities in the county, and our leaders. (2) Voice your support of the effort to local leaders. (3) Share this page with neighbors, friends, and fellow church members. (4) Attend city council and commissioners’ court meetings and speak in support during public comment whenever and wherever the effort gets placed on a city or county agenda. Visit sanctuarycitiesfortheunborn.com or contact Mark Lee Dickson at 806-598-1919 or markleedickson@gmail.com for official materials and to coordinate proper next steps.
Now Is the Time for Comanche to Act
Over 97 cities and counties have already passed these protections. Our community — which has voted 86–92% pro-life in every recent election — has both the will and the legal authority to join them. The only thing standing between Comanche and becoming a Sanctuary City for the Unborn is a vote. Let’s make sure that vote happens.
Learn More at SanctuaryCitiesForTheUnborn.comMark Lee Dickson | 806-598-1919 | markleedickson@gmail.com | markleedickson.com