by Bethany Monk (CitizenLink)
Pro-life leaders and lawmakers joined forces today to urge the U.S. Senate to pass legislation that would ban abortions after 20 weeks, when pre-born babies begin to feel pain.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, introduced the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act last year. This afternoon, Graham asked his fellow senators to consider the bill. Majority Leader Harry Reid rejected his request.
Contact your U.S. senators. Ask them to encourage Reid to bring the legislation to the floor for a vote.
"A federal law is long overdue," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List. "The United States is only one of seven countries to allow abortion on-demand at such a late stage of pregnancy."
The U.S. House passed companion legislation last summer, 228-196.
This also happens to mark the one-year anniversary of the conviction of abortionist Kermit Gosnell. His heinous crimes are what spurred the advancement of such bills. To date, 13 states have enacted laws prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks.
Video at: http://youtu.be/GMs-_yYq8HU
A jury found Gosnell guilty of three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of babies who were born alive. He was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a pregnant woman.
Jeanneane Maxon, Americans United for Life vice president for external affairs and corporate counsel, calls the Pain-Capable act "common-sense legislation." She also underscored the dangers of late-term abortions.
"A woman seeking an abortion at 20 weeks — five months of pregnancy — is 35 times more likely to die from abortionthan she was in the first trimester," she explained. "At 21 weeks or more, she is 91 times more likely to die from abortion than she was in the first trimester."
The U.S. is among 4 out of 195 nations that allow abortions through all nine months for any reason. The other countries are North Korea, China and Canada.
"Americans United for Life strongly supports efforts to limit dangerous, late-term abortion procedures, given the health risks to mother and child," Maxon said. "We urge Congress to also protect taxpayers whose First Amendment Conscience Rights would be violated should they be forced to pay for abortions."
Take Action for Life
Ask your U.S. Senators to encourage Majority Leader Harry Reid to bring the Pain- Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to the floor for a vote.
