In the Show-Me State of Missouri, a place known for its straight-shooting politics and no-nonsense approach, Republican Senator Mike Moon has been pushing the envelope—way beyond what many so-called “pro-life” organizations are willing to do. Back in May, Moon introduced a piece of legislation that would, get this, actually treat abortion for what it is—murder.

Now, that sounds like a straightforward application of moral and ethical clarity, doesn’t it? Yet some of the state’s top “anti-abortion groups,” like Missouri Right To Life, are opposing the idea. They’re opposed to the bill, saying they don’t want to prosecute women who abort their children. “We want to reach out to women and have compassion for them and help them to see that they have alternatives to abortion, but we don’t want to prosecute them,” said Susan Klein, executive director of Missouri Right To Life according to the Kansas City Star.

It begs the question, if you’re not willing to go all the way in defending the sanctity of life, then what exactly are you standing for? It’s a puzzling inconsistency that tells you quite a lot about the state of the pro-life movement today.

Now, in another clip that has surfaced, Samuel Lee, head of the “pro-life” group Campaign Life Missouri, joins pro-choice groups in opposing the legislation. Citing a letter that was signed by numerous so-called “pro-life” organizations including the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), Lee argues that women are “victims” of abortion and should never, under any circumstances, be punished for murdering their child.

“Women are victims of abortion and require our compassion and support,” Lee said, “as well as ready access to counseling and social services in the days, weeks, months, and years following an abortion.”

“As national and state pro-life organizations, representing tens of millions of pro-life men, women, and children across the country, let us be clear: We state unequivocally that we do not support any measure seeking to criminalize or punish women and we stand firmly opposed to include such penalties in legislation,” he said.

In addition to these groups opposing the legislation is the ERLC’s Brent Leatherwood. As an NRLC letter signatory, Leatherwood ostensibly champions the rights of unborn children, leading many to believe he supports anti-abortion legislation. Yet he has consistently betrayed these expectations, casting a shadow over his dedication to the pro-life cause.

In 2022, after defeating a similar bill in Louisiana, the ERLC claimed the legislation was “too extreme” and would not endure legal challenges.