NASCAR champ makes life-and-death plea to voters

By Suzanne Normand Blackwood

NASCAR champ Darrell Waltrip says he doen't want Tennessee to be known as "the abortion state."

Darrell Waltrip

That's why he's urging Tennesseans to vote for Amendment 1, which will be on the ballot Tuesday. Waltrip, a Tennessee resident, and other pro-life activists are hoping the state constitutional amendment will reduce Tennessee's popularity as an abortion destination.

Nearly one-fourth of the women getting abortions in Tennessee come from out of state, according to recent statistics by Tennessee Department of Health.

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Many have attributed this to a ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2000 in the case Planned Parenthood of Middle Tennessee v. Sundquist. The 4-1 ruling struck down three of the state's regulations that offered stronger protection for mothers and their babies, making it easier for women to get abortions in Tennessee.

Laws that were struck down include informed consent so the woman would know the risks involved in abortion, a required two-day waiting period before the abortion took place and required hospitalization for riskier late-term abortions. The court ruled the regulations infringed on a woman's fundamental right to abortion and that the right is protected under the state's constitution.

Waltrip and his wife, Stevie, have been speaking out publicly in favor of Amendment 1. Darrell Waltrip, a Fox Sports analyst and owner of Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group in Nashville, has become more outspoken in recent years about his Christian faith, the basis for his view of abortion.

Also, the Waltrips, who have two daughters, experienced difficulty having children and lost two children through miscarriages. They say their experience underscores the value of human life.

The previously required waiting period offered a woman a "second chance" by allowing her an opportunity to change her mind about the abortion, Darrell Waltrip said. If a woman decides to go through with an abortion, "that will be in your mind the rest of your life."

"There are emotional and physical repercussions that follow," said Stevie Waltrip. "You can't undo it once it's done."

Stevie Waltrip said she would encourage any woman considering abortion to have an ultrasound done by an objective facility. She said she would also remind the woman that there are alternatives, such as adoption, and people are willing to help her with her child.

Stevie Waltrip said she would personally help a woman in that situation.

"The bottom line is my faith tells me that taking a life is wrong – a helpless, innocent life," she said, tearing up as she spoke. "I don't think they actually realize what abortion does to this little human being."

Darrell Waltrip said he knows abortion is a controversial issue. However, "it's [about] what's right and what's wrong," he said, adding he believes people will respect him for taking a stand for his beliefs.

"This is one of those times you have to stand up."

Tennessee an abortion 'mecca'

Other prominent Tennesseans who have been speaking in favor of Amendment 1 include world renowned cataract and LASIK surgeon Ming Wang, U.S. congressional candidate Charlotte Bergmann and state Sen. Douglas Henry, D-Nashville, who has served in the state legislature for more than four decades.

Wang, an atheist turned Christian who was the inspiration for the character Martin Yip in the movie "God's Not Dead," also holds a doctorate in laser physics. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Medical School and is founder of Wang Vision Institute.

Wang has been engaged in scientific research for many years. He invented and developed the world's first amniotic membrane contact lens, which showed it's possible to do fetal research without the need for abortion or even "touching any part of a fetus," he said.

"I believe in life and in the need to protect a fetus," Wang said. "I firmly believe that we need to do everything possible to protect the life of an unborn child."

Bergmann said Tennessee appears to be "mecca" for women from out of state seeking abortions. She said Tennessee has stronger protection for abortion clinics than most other states and weaker protection for expecting mothers and their babies.

Also, said Bergmann, who is black and a Republican, abortion clinics tend to be located in areas convenient to black communities. Sadly, she said, more black babies are killed by abortion than are actually born.

Court decision a 'war against women'

Tennessee is also thought to be a popular abortion destination because of lax requirements for licensing and inspection of abortion facilities.

According to Yeson1tn.org, half of the state's eight abortion facilities are unlicensed.

Yes On 1 is an alliance formed in 2012 that consists of the Family Action Council of Tennessee, Right to Life Tennessee, Tennessee Eagle Forum and other pro-life groups.

Yes On 1 has been partnering with churches, which have taken bold stances by placing Yes On 1 signs on their lawns and educating members about the amendment.

Abortion activists have countered by placing signs encouraging Tennesseans to vote no on Amendment 1.

David Fowler, president of the Family Action Council of Tennessee, initially proposed the resolution in 2001 when he was a state senator. He said the 2000 Tennessee Supreme Court decision altered the state constitution in a way that it had never been interpreted.

"It was an overreach by our state supreme court," he said.

Fowler said abortion is "a life-altering, irreversible medical procedure," and women should be informed of the consequences and risks and other available options.

Eliminating this requirement is "a war against women," he said.

The changes in Tennessee abortion laws that resulted from the lawsuit became "a way for Planned Parenthood to circumvent the laws of other states," Fowler said.

If Amendment 1 passes, it would allow the legislature, which represents the people, to again enact laws that protect women and their babies, he said.

Fowler described it as "a very common sense amendment" that allows the people instead of "judges in black robes" to decide "what abortion regulations and policies we should have in our state."

See one of the arguments in the dispute: