Posted on 07/19/2005 5:25:35 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
SAINT PAUL, July 19, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, last Thursday, signed a bill that will require doctors to tell women seeking abortion after 20 weeks gestation that fetuses might feel pain during the procedure and offer them the option of fetal anesthesia. The "Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act," was supported by the group, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, (MCCL) an affiliate of National Right to Life.
MCCL's Laura Gese, told LifeSiteNews.com that the passage of the legislation was being seen as a victory by pro-lifers there. "It's a compassionate bill, wherein, if we have decided that the child has to die, at least he won't suffer horribly from a brutal death."
The bill was not directly opposed by the National Abortion Rights Action League, since fetal pain is considered a side issue. Most Minnesota abortions are committed in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy and so the law does not affect them. Medical association opposition was dropped when the bill's language was changed to preclude felony charges for doctors who failed to comply.
The real value of the legislation is in the message it sends to those engaged in the debate. Gese said that MCCL hopes the bill will have an effect similar to the partial birth abortion bans in raising the awareness in the public of the humanity of the unborn child. Gese said, "It strengthens the Woman's Right to Know bill," that required women be given accurate information about abortion and fetal development before abortion.
"It also brings to light the humanity of the unborn child and opens the discussion. It helps people to understand that this is a human being that we are talking about."
Jim Hughes, National President of Canada's pro-life lobby, Campaign Life Coalition, echoed this when he told LifeSiteNews.com, "If there's anything positive it is to show that there is a human being present that does feel pain. And people who haven't entered the debate yet will come into the discussion and be shown the humanity of the unborn."
"By the same token," said Hughes, "it's certainly not a victory. It's definitely an admission that these things are going to go on anyway and we can't stop them yet. It's a very, very small step forward, but it might cause some younger people to give the issue a second look, and in the end, gain their support for the life of the child."
Adding link of interest
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1437269/posts
[FLASHBACK] Ramsey Clark backs the President's Supreme Court nominee
ProLife Ping!
If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.
How nice.
It's frightening to think about, but this is all it might take for some mothers to keep their babies. The pro-death crowd (led by Planned Parenthood) has fought to keep any information about what is really being done away from the mothers, because it might interfere with their money-making murder industry.
Tim Pawlenty is a strong Christian, btw.....
Pray for this nation!
Thanks for the ping.
IF this bill saves even one precious child then it is worth it. What is so saddening is that a bill like this is even needed.
This is a common misconception, and the pro-aborts want it to stay that way.
The reality is that abortion is legal in the U.S. up until the moment of birth (and even at that point, killing the baby is legal if the "partial birth abortion" method is used).
This has been true for over 30 years, since the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisons.
Those SCOTUS decisions allow states to "regulate" late-term abortions, but NOT to ban them.
States can only make minor, technical rules about late term abortions (such as requiring that they be performed in hospitals, rather than doctors' offices).
I am saddened that the realities of abortion are still unknown to a vast majority of Americans. Your thought that it was "illegal after...." is widespread. If you read Roe vs. Wade, it will sicken you. Any 5th grade kid in Biology could have countermanded the garbage in that decision with no input sought from reputable embryologists who still state that life begins at conception (it has to start someplace!).
Go here for an eye opener: http://www.abort73.com/
Frank
God bless you for your decision!
A close friend just put her last child into college. She was born when her mom was 40 and her dad was 42 (he jokes about how he'll be 70 when she is finishing graduate school!). My friend refused to have any prenatal testing of any kind to see if the baby had Down's or some kind of deformity. "God gave the child to us, and we're going to raise it come what may," was her attitude. "God provides." The young woman is beautiful and a genius to boot.
Happy birthday as well!
Frank
Thanks! We're looking forward to having our baby. The current one is getting too big - he tells me NO! when I want to hold him :-).
If he is nearing the dreaded age of two, my heart bleeds for you!
;-o)
Frank
I believe the legal term for that is "justifiable homicide" ;-P
Seriously, the baby murder racket in this country is absolutely sickening.
One and a half.
Blast from the past---thanks for the reminder about these fools...dangerous as they are.
Lay up a stock of strong bourbon. You don't have any idea what awaits you in about 4 months!
Frank
The current toddler is #7. We have been THROUGH the 2's!
The worst age is 3, in my opinion. I thought we were going to be arrested last week, when my 3-year-old threw himself on the floor in the grocery store and screamed, "Josie's giving me a milkshake! They're taking me to Arkansas!"
Just checked your Freeper Page. Beautiful kids! Are their eyes that blue or are you a whiz with Photoshop?
Your son has a great future in writing screenplays. I think he has an excellent chance of writing the TRUE story of Bill Clinton in 2019. Must be the Arkansas reference.
Frank
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.