A New York bookstore owner who closed his shop in protest against his state’s new late-term abortion bill gave an impassioned address this week at a local council meeting. Jon Speed, owner of The Book Scout in Syracuse, urged local government leaders to strike back and opt out of the newly enforced “Reproductive Health Act,” which includes provisions for abortion up until birth.

Speed has been an active member of the pro-life community for some time. A few years ago, he produced an anti-abortion documentary called “Babies Are Murdered Here” and is currently working on a sequel titled, “Babies Are Still Murdered Here.”

His speech, which was filled with many of the devastating truths that surround the sordid business of abortion, drew silence from the Batavia council chamber.

Unedited video from last night of my speech to the Batavia, NY City Council. Posted by Jon Speed on Tuesday, February 12, 2019

“What is the best way to kill a baby?” the former pastor asked. “Using an abortifacient? Or saline abortion — where the baby is burned alive in its mother’s womb? Or is it a surgical abortion in the second trimester when the baby is cut into pieces and then reassembled in a dish? Perhaps it is to deliver the baby in the third trimester and then stick a pair of scissors into his or her neck?

“That’s what we are talking about here,” he added, “which what is the best way to kill a baby?”

The answer to that question is “obvious to anyone with a conscience,” Speed asserted. “There is no good way to kill a baby: Thou Shalt Not Kill.”

Why is the new legislation so horrifying?

The New York Senate erupted in applause following the passing of RHA last month.

Simply put, the new law will allow for the termination of fully formed babies. The killings can take place if the patient is 24 weeks from the commencement of pregnancy if there is an absence of fetal viability, or, if “the abortion is necessary to protect the patient’s life or health.”

Critically, however, the intentional ambiguity of that last part allows for the destruction of the baby at any point during pregnancy should the doctor deem the mother’s wellbeing is at risk. The term “wellbeing” is, in itself, terrifyingly non-specific. So, with regards to these life and death decisions, physicians will be asked to assess “all factors — physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman’s age — relevant to the wellbeing of the patient.”

Baby’s are murdered in Batavia

In light of New York state’s horrific legislative decisions, Speed decided to issue a Biblical challenge to the Batavia council members.

“According to Romans 13:4, the city council serves as a minister of God to terrorize evildoers,” he declared. “You must use your authority to support what is good while punishing what’s evil.”

Romans 13:3-5 reads:

“For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”

“Babies are murdered in Batavia, New York, every day that Planned Parenthood is open,” Speed continued. “Every day, abortifacients are being sold over the counter in Walmart. Babies are murdered under your jurisdiction.”

The business owner noted that it was “irrelevant” whether or not the killings were legal under state law, comparing the situation to Nazi Germany.

“Everything that Hitler did in Germany was legal, by German law,” he said.

Speed concluded with a final, powerful plea for the most vulnerable members of society:

“Please lead the way in upstate New York, and make Batavia a sanctuary city for the unborn,” he said.

Speed’s video has garnered more than 20,000 views in less than 24 hours. Pray that his powerful words will reach the right ears and discourage other communities from adopting legislation that harms the unborn.