Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry Rick PerryOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push resolution to battle climate change, sluggish economy and racial injustice | Senators reach compromise on greenhouse gas amendment stalling energy bill | Trump courts Florida voters with offshore drilling moratorium OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump signs major conservation bill into law | Senate votes to confirm Energy's No. 2 official | Trump Jr. expresses opposition to Pebble Mine project Senate votes to confirm Energy's No. 2 official MORE said on Sunday that Planned Parenthood is acting “outside the bounds of humanity” and “our criminal laws.”

“I think anyone who's seen the videos of the Planned Parenthood is offended, you know, regardless of where they may be on the issue of choice or protecting life,” he told George Stephanopoulos George Robert StephanopoulosMurkowski: Supreme Court nominee should not be taken up before election Cruz says Senate Republicans likely have votes to confirm Trump Supreme Court nominee Pelosi: House will use 'every arrow in our quiver' to stop Trump Supreme Court nominee MORE during his appearance on ABC’s "This Week."

Stephanopoulos was asking Perry to respond to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s opinion that “the next president should invoke the Fifth and Fourteenth amendments” to protect the right to life.

Perry said Texas shut down Planned Parenthood because the state's citizens did not want to expand abortion.

The real issue, he said, is providing healthcare options for women while restricting groups that use abnormal procedures to do abortions.

Stephanopoulos also asked him whether he’ll be able to run an effective campaign if he fails to make it into the GOP's top tier for debates. On Thursday, Perry participated in an earlier debate of candidates who did not crack the top 10 in national poll numbers. He just missed the cut.

“You know, debates are important, but there is nothing that's more important than sitting in a town hall meeting or in a roping arena, as I was last night, in Iowa Falls, Iowa, talking to the people,” he said. “They're the ones that are going to show up for the caucus and then the primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina. That's where you'd better be spending a lot of your time.”