Posted on 01/11/2024 2:36:34 PM PST by Morgana
The 2024 Virginia General Assembly opens this week, and there is a small but powerful pro-abortion majority in both chambers.
These pro-abortion members of the Senate and House of Delegates will block the passage of any strong anti-abortion bills and force through some dreadfully dangerous abortion measures that could turn Virginia into a location for unlimited abortion up to birth.
The first thing a new pro-abortion majority is likely to do is to cast the first of two required votes in favor of a Virginia constitutional amendment allowing unlimited abortion right up to birth, which would start the process of putting the amendment on a statewide ballot for voters.
Changing the Virginia Constitution is a multi-step process, and this session will be the first step, passing amendment language.
HJ1 and SJ1, the Fundamental Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, were the first pieces of legislation introduced by Democrats after the 2023 elections. Voting could occur in the House of Delegates and state Senate in the first weeks of the 2024 session.
Why should every responsible Virginian be troubled by this action? Certainly, we all want to ensure that every woman has access to appropriate health care, especially when they are pregnant. No one wants to deny women potentially lifesaving treatment when needed.
But that’s not what this amendment is about. The language of the amendment is subtle and clever. It sounds reasonable, but it is masterfully designed with loopholes that will open a path to completely unrestricted abortion to birth and prevent any protective laws in the future.
Similar amendments that have been approved in other states have wiped out pro-life laws and expanded abortion, including requiring more tax-funded abortions, no parental consent laws for minors, and allowing non-doctors to perform abortions. These amendments even prevent much-needed laws to prevent coercive abortions. In other words, no limits of any kind, even those that will protect women.
Ultimately, the only people whom the amendment will protect will be those who benefit from unrestricted abortion, the promoters and businesses that perform abortions. In Virginia, the law already allows non-doctors to perform abortions or distribute abortion drugs. There is no longer even a requirement that a pregnant woman have an in-person physical exam before she can receive potentially dangerous abortion drugs.
The current public debate swirls around women’s rights, but the fact remains that every abortion ends the life of another human being. Abortion is not a surgery to remove a disordered organ or treat a disease; it is always and only a procedure intended to kill the baby growing in a mother’s womb. The truth is that abortion is a tragedy for the mother and child.
Abortion advocates argue that pro-lifers would pass laws that prevent appropriate or emergency care when a pregnancy becomes dangerous. It is also claimed there is a desire to punish women. Very scary rhetoric, to be sure, but not true. In 2022, 75 national and state pro-life groups signed a letter initiated by National Right to Life clarifying that they never had nor ever will promote laws that would punish women who have an abortion.
As for emergency care, the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists has made it clear that lifesaving treatment remains available in every state, even where new strong pro-life laws have been passed.
Pro-abortion organizations twist the facts and manipulate the public with stories that fill some minds with fear and anxiety. Stories of high-risk pregnancies or young women in danger are alarming, but hysteria is not the best way to make law.
What is never discussed is how abortions harm women. It is assumed that women never suffer injuries or emotional problems after an abortion. Those of us who have had abortions in this country beg to differ. Across Virginia and the country, programs and groups have been created by women and for women to resolve the emotional damage caused by their abortions.
For decades, abortion promoters have insisted that abortion is harmless. That helps sell their agenda and makes them money. Abortions aren’t done free of charge, after all.
The problem is that this insidious message has left thousands of women with memories of the most painful moment in our lives, wounded hearts and sometimes damaged bodies. We paid someone to end our children’s lives because our society has failed to address what women really need and far too often can’t find when we face a complex pregnancy situation.
The troubling reality in Virginia is that the vast majority of abortions now involve abortion pills, which a woman takes alone. When she experiences the pain, excessive bleeding, and dangers often connected with those drugs, she has no medical care to assist her.
The amendment would prevent the Virginia General Assembly from passing laws to protect women from reckless distribution of a drug that will not only kill her baby but could potentially end her life.
A basic truth is women do not need abortions. What do they need? Support, accurate medical information and care, a society that welcomes their children and provides opportunities that respect both of them. That is what they can find for free at pregnancy care centers all over America, including the 42 in Virginia. Why not provide more help to make them more accessible?
Last year, pro-abortion members of the General Assembly voted to oppose a new Department of Health website to list all the help available, private and public, to any Virginia woman from pregnancy up to their child’s 18th birthday. Are they afraid that women might find real help that goes beyond abortion?
Pro-life Virginians want to make the state a place that will be safe for unborn children and their mothers. Concerned citizens will gather in Richmond on Virginia Pro-Life Day, Feb. 21, to meet legislators in person. Together, we will be a voice for the voiceless.
This is what we are up against. And this is what an increasing number of Freepers are foolishly starting to compromise with by putting politics above the right to life. But as we can see, the other side will never compromise on this. Never.
A basic truth is women do not need abortions. What do they need? Support, accurate medical information and care, a society that welcomes their children and provides opportunities that respect both of them. That is what they can find for free at pregnancy care centers all over America, including the 42 in Virginia. Why not provide more help to make them more accessible?
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I think this paragraph speaks volumes about what actually needs to be championed. Significant advocacy for the option of adoption is vital as well.
I remember Kari Lake speaking eloquently about this very approach recently. Here’s hoping and praying that she makes strides in conveying this imperative message in her Arizona senate campaign—or perhaps as Trump’s running mate.
Just put up another limiting it to 15 weeks-you know-the feel pain moment. Might not work. I’m just sick of us playing defense.
This discussion may be more important. No problem gets solved without recognizing first there is a problem. The sad news is that we’re 18 months too late.
The #ing Rats are loathsome, Satanic scum
“allowing non-doctors to perform abortions”
Sounds like they want “back alley abortions” back on the menu!
I’d be all for abortions for liberals between 18 and 80 and just call it late term
Democrats are racists.
This evil people need to fed to a woodchipper... Slowly...
unbelievable how far left Virginia ran so quickly
“putting politics above the right to life”
This country is on a downward slope that probably will not be reversed.
“putting politics above the right to life”
This country is on a downward slope that probably will not be reversed.
ARTICLE I
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 11-A. Fundamental right to reproductive freedom.
That every individual has the fundamental right to reproductive freedom. This right to make and effectuate one’s own decisions about all matters related to one’s pregnancy shall not be denied, burdened, or infringed upon, unless justified by a compelling state interest and achieved by the least restrictive means that do not infringe an individual’s autonomous decision-making. A state interest is compelling only when it is to ensure the protection of the health of an individual seeking care, consistent with accepted clinical standards of practice and evidence-based medicine. The Commonwealth shall not discriminate in the protection or enforcement of this fundamental right.
That, except when justified by a compelling state interest, the Commonwealth shall not penalize, prosecute, or otherwise take adverse action against an individual on the basis of an actual, potential, perceived, or alleged outcome of such individual’s pregnancy, nor shall the Commonwealth penalize, prosecute, or otherwise take adverse action against an individual who aids or assists another individual, with such individual’s voluntary consent, in the exercise of such individual’s right to reproductive freedom.
That this section shall be self-executing and that if any provision of this section is held invalid, it shall be severable from the remaining portions of the section.
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+ful+HJ519
At this point in time, I think we need to focus on protecting what is ours by limiting property and income taxation on the middle class via constitutional amendments.
If a woman is badly hurt by an abortion pill regimen, she can contact a lawyer to seek legal redress.
If she is not allowed to get compensation, it will probably be her fault for voting for such an amendment.
This is barbaric. To think that Virginia was once a swing state.
Why stop at birth? Why not up to age 15? That way parents can see if he’s turning out satisfactorily
And this is what an increasing number of Freepers are foolishly starting to compromise with by putting politics above the right to life.
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I’ve noticed that, too. Unwilling to trust God and take a righteous stand. The ghouls figured the scheme worked for homosexuality, so why not abortion. This is how the entire country is corrupted and lost, out of spiritual poverty and ignorance.
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