One of the 25 state senators who voted in favour of Alabama’s pro-life abortion law says his family has been harassed and threatened because of his stance.
Garlan Gudger expressed his view that “an unborn baby is a person who deserves protection, even in the most difficult of circumstances”.
But he and his family were attacked via social media by abortion activists.
“No-one should be attacked or be threatened with harm over a difference of opinion.”
Intolerance
In a television interview, he said: “I signed up for this job, I knew what I was getting into. So I’m planted firmly in what I believe in, and so I’m staying firm in that.
“But overall it’s been tough. It’s been more tough I believe dealing with the balancing of my wife and my children being attacked. I don’t obviously like that part.
“No-one should be attacked or be threatened with harm over a difference of opinion.”
Rape threat
He explained: “People have contacted my 15-year-old son on Snapchat and social media. My wife has been contacted that they were going to break into our house and rape and do other things to her.
“So it’s been a lot of stress at our household and a lot of the other colleagues that are on the floor are the same way. But it’s something that we have to deal with, and we’re dealing with it.”
He acknowledged that as a politician, there is nowhere to hide from what he called a ‘divisive and polarising’ issue.
But concluded: “as an elected official you have to stand up and plant your feet in exactly what your core beliefs are, and we all did that.”