The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
An abstention by a South Hampton Roads Republican senator proved decisive Thursday in the defeat of legislation to ban most abortions of fetuses 20 weeks or older.
The bill from Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, would have established the 20-week threshold as the time by which a fetus can feel pain. It failed to advance out of the Senate Education and Health Committee on a 7-7 vote, with Chesapeake Sen. Harry Blevins abstaining.
Obenshain’s bill also would have made it a class 6 felony, which carries up to 5 years in prison, to perform an abortion beyond that time and allowed parents to seek civil damages in those cases.
But his bill would have allowed abortions for pregnant women whose lives or health were in jeopardy.
Current state law permits pregnancy terminations in the first and second trimesters, as well as those in the third trimester to save a woman’s life.
After the vote, Blevins said he was swayed by the tearful testimony of a woman who told lawmakers she ended a mid-term pregnancy after learning the fetus she carried had serious development defects.
The woman, Tara Schleifer of Haymarket, told committee members the 20-week demarcation in Obenshain’s bill would limit the time families facing such a tough choice have for research and additional testing before making a critical decision.
Blevins told reporters “it was just traumatic for me to sit there and think about what that woman was going through and not give her any consideration.”
One day earlier, Blevins was on the prevailing side of a full Senate vote to require women to have an ultrasound, with a chance to view the image, before an abortion.
Blevins said he was comfortable supporting that measure because a woman still has the ability to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Keep it real.
It makes no difference if it is performed by an ax murderer or a licensed physician. Murder is murder and the consequences should remain consistent.
Including
the charge of "murder" when a woman is forced to continue a pregnancy that will kill HER? I think the legislature would be responsible, but of course, they have immunity for their actions.
That makes two
First Rigell admits that there are times when more taxes might be necessary, and now Blevins actually exhibits compassion and common sense. Could there be some sort of plague making it's way slowly through the GOP? If so, let's hope it's a quick-moving epidemic!
Adoption or Just Talking...
I have to ask each of you "how many of these unwanted children have you adopted? If the answer is "none." You are failing to help the cause and allowing unwanted children to suffer. You save a child and leave them with a life that is full of abuse and sadness. You can make a difference in a child's life.
Stop talking and adopt one of those unwanted kids...
No difference
If a mugger in the city were to attack a pregnant woman, causing a miscarriage, the mugger would be charged with murder. When it comes to abortion, I don't see any distinction.
Republican plan to ban abortion
First they pass a law that requires an additional expensive proceedure that takes time to schedule. Then they limit the time women have to get an abortion. This is what you voted for Virginia....turning back the clock on women's rights.
Really?
And just what about the rights of the unborn child, huh? Who is there to defend him/her? It is said that the soul of a country can be determined by how they treat their most defenseless citizens. We kill ours! and call it 'women's rights'. Murder isn't ANYONE's right! We are spiraling into a toilet of our own making.
25-35% of miscarriages occur after the !st trimester
Who goes to jail for those?
God.
The doctor who may not have recognized a medical problem.
The woman.
And what happens if after the 1st trimester, a serious problem occurs that will kill the fetus, but not necessarily harm the mother.
Make her carry the stillborn to birth?
Exact conception dates are often hard to pin down. Who determines if the fetus is 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 weeks old?
The power of the state is inching its way into the womb.
Soon, the uterus will belong to the state.
Next come the state minders to monitor the woman 24/7.
Oh please . . .
Stop with the drama, would you? There is a simple solution - prohibit murder, period. If there is absolute proof that a child suffers severe defects, give the woman AND HER PARTNER the right to choose to terminate the pregnancy, whatever the time. If not, there is no decision. Abortion, at any time, is murder. And that (murder) is a capital offense. NO ONE should have the right to kill because of a law that has killed over 50 million children!
Choice
I am glad I am sitting down...was that a Republican that considered a womans right of CHOICE??????? OMG I am in shock!
namaste' ya'll