Limit on Abortion..Virginia Style

Virginian Pilot (Norfolk, VA) ^ | 1/28/03 | Robert Mccabe

[Don@VB]

RICHMOND -- The abortion debate in Virginia shifted course on Monday when a House panel passed a bill based on a strict definition of when a birth has occurred -- instead of when a life has begun.

[Don@VB]

By ROBERT MCCABE, The Virginian-Pilot © January 28, 2003

RICHMOND -- The abortion debate in Virginia shifted course on Monday when a House panel passed a bill based on a strict definition of when a birth has occurred -- instead of when a life has begun. The passage of HB1541 marks a strategic change for socially conservative legislators who are hoping to outlaw so-called ``partial-birth'' abortions. Those efforts have been frustrated by constitutionally protected rights to abortion.

The legislation -- unprecedented in Virginia -- never mentions the word ``abortion.'' Instead, it would establish that a child, in most cases, is born when the entire head is outside the body of the mother. It would make it a felony, punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison, for anyone to deliberately take the life of the infant from that point on.

In the case of a breech baby, birth would occur when any part of the infant's trunk past the navel is outside the mother.

The legislation passed the House Courts of Justice Committee on an 18-4 vote and now advances to the full House. Similar legislation is being considered in the Senate. (The COMPLETE article can be found in the Virginian Pilot 1/28/03 edition)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Email this Page Print this Page Newsletter Sign-up Get Wireless Pilot Subscriptions

The sponsor of the House legislation -- Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William -- said he believes the legislation can pass constitutional muster. It was endorsed by Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, a Republican who is expected to run for governor in 2005.

[sweetliberty]

That is great! The really tragic part is that we ever deteriorated as a nation to the point that we have to even make these determinations. When did we get so out of touch with our humanity? Why have 40 million Americans been exterminated by their own mothers? How can anybody justify this abomination? The conscience is dead in those who support the ongoing practice of killing unborn children. I guess that is why they hate those of us who stand for life so much....because we are all that is preventing the death of the conscience of the nation.