Published on July 5, 2024, 1:02 am

Image source: Fox News

Paul Vaughn, a deeply religious father of 11 and veteran of the U.S. Navy, has evaded jail time after being convicted in January on charges related to blocking access to abortion clinics, which is prohibited by federal law. The conviction was issued for his part in an incident at the Carafem Health Center Clinic in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, where he and 10 other defendants were indicted for obstructing the clinic’s entrance in March 2021.

U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger sentenced Vaughn to three years of supervised release during a Tuesday hearing. Vaughn had been subjected to an early morning raid at his home following his indictment by the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) in October 2022. Revealing that he would have willingly cooperated with law enforcement officials, Vaughn disclosed distress caused within his family because of this sudden arrest.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Trauger suggested that while she acknowledges Vaughn’s actions originated from firm spiritual beliefs and didn’t involve violence or harm others, he and others involved were imposing their faith on those who may not share similar perspectives.

Vaughn views these legal proceedings as part of a broader spiritual battle that Christian society is presently fighting. Owing his lenient sentence to divine intervention, he conveyed gratitude for ongoing legal representation from the Thomas More Society – a nonprofit organization providing specialized legal services matching up with Christian ideologies!

However, marked disagreement was expressed over prosecution under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act passed during Bill Clinton’s presidency. Used recurrently under Biden’s administration to prosecute pro-life demonstrators like himself, Paul termed it an “unlawful use of law.” Several lawmakers have echoed this sentiment by raising concerns about potential violations against constitutional freedoms by this specific Act; steps are being taken towards its repeal across different congressional houses.

Legal assistance from The Thomas More Society celebrated that extensive prison time was avoided by Vaughn but didn’t shy away from their disappointment over any punishment being sentenced. This religious liberty law firm draws attention to the paradox of penalizing peaceful pro-life protestors on the anniversary marking American freedom – July 2, when the resolution declaring independence was passed by the Continental Congress in 1776.

During Vaughn’s Tuesday sentencing, his supporters turned up in large numbers outside federal court to showcase solidarity through hymns and prayers. Among them was 88-year-old Eva Edl, who had also been indicted following the protest; she voiced feelings of déjà vu about the U.S government increasingly resembling Yugoslavia’s communist regime from which her family fled.

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