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Congressman Pushes National Ban on Abortions After 20 Weeks
Life News ^ | Steven Ertelt

Posted on 05/17/2013 12:53:05 PM PDT by Morgana

Following the national outrage over Kermit Gosnell and his late-term abortions that were essentially infanticide, a pro-life Republican member of Congress is pushing legislation that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy nationwide.

Congressman Trent Franks informed LifeNews today that he will advance legislation to provide protection nationwide for unborn children who have the capacity to experience pain while being aborted, a capacity defined in the bill as existing by 20 weeks fetal age.

Franks is the prime sponsor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The current version of the bill, which garnered a majority vote in the House in 2012, would apply only to the District of Columbia. The congressman told LifeNews today that he intends to revise the bill (H.R. 1797) in committee to cover the entire nation in a bid to prevent more cases like that of Kermit Gosnell.

As Chair of the House Judiciary’s Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, Franks will hold a hearing on the legislation next Thursday.

“I know when the subject is related in any way to abortion, the doors of reason and human compassion in our minds and hearts often close, and the humanity of the unborn can no longer be seen. But I pray we can at least come together to agree that we can and should draw the line at the point that these innocent babies can feel the excruciating pain of these brutal procedures,” he said.

Franks added: “The case of Kermit Gosnell shocked the sensibilities of millions of Americans. However, the crushing fact is that abortions on babies just like the ones killed by Kermit Gosnell have been happening hundreds of times per day, every single day, for the past 40 years. Indeed, let us not forget that, had Kermit Gosnell dismembered these babies before they had traveled down the birth canal only moments earlier, he would have, in many places nationwide, been performing an entirely legal procedure. If America truly understands that horrifying reality, hearts and laws will change.”

“To this end, I have re-introduced the D.C. Pain Capable Unborn Protection Act, which will now be amended to broaden its coverage so that its provisions will apply nationwide,” he said. “Knowingly subjecting our innocent unborn children to dismemberment in the womb, particularly when they have developed to the point that they can feel excruciating pain every terrible moment leading up to their undeserved deaths, belies everything America was called to be. This is not who we are.”

The move to expand the bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks nationwide has the strong support of the National Right to Life Committee.

“National Right to Life strongly concurs in Congressman Franks’ decision that the time is ripe to seek protection for pain-capable unborn children nationwide,” said NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson. “Because of publicity surrounding the trial of Kermit Gosnell and subsequent revelations about other abortionists, many Americans are becoming aware for the first time that abortions are frequently performed late in pregnancy on babies who are capable of being born alive, and on babies who will experience great pain while being killed.”

Johnson says that in a nationwide poll of 1,003 registered voters in March, The Polling Company found that 64% would support a law such as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act prohibiting abortion after 20 weeks — when an unborn baby can feel pain — unless the life of the mother was in danger. Only 30% opposed such legislation.

Johnson added that the federal bill contains legislative findings and operative language very similar to bills already enacted in nine states, beginning in 2010, based on model legislation prepared by NRLC. Like those state laws, Mr. Franks’ legislation contains findings of fact regarding the medical evidence that unborn children experience pain at least by 20 weeks after fertilization (which is 22 weeks in the “LMP” system, or about the start of the sixth month), and prohibits abortion after that point, except when an acute physical condition endangers the life of the mother.

Some of the extensive evidence that unborn children have the capacity to experience pain, at least by 20 weeks, is available on the NRLC website.

During the 2011-12 Congress, Mr. Franks’ bill garnered 222 co-sponsors in the 435-member House, and received the support of a majority of House members on July 31, 2012 (roll call no. 539).


TOPICS: Breaking News; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: abortion; congressman; deathpanels; gosnell; obamacare; prolife; zerocare

1 posted on 05/17/2013 12:53:05 PM PDT by Morgana
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To: Morgana

“20 weeks after birth right?” Queried the closest Democrat at the news.


2 posted on 05/17/2013 12:54:07 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Before it's all over, Obama may demand extradition to Kenya, becasue he was born there...)
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To: Morgana

“National outrage”? How could there be. The MSM refused to cover it.


3 posted on 05/17/2013 12:54:16 PM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: RIghtwardHo

bttt


4 posted on 05/17/2013 12:56:48 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: Morgana; FReepers; Patriots; FRiends; everyone; SOMEONE; anyone; y'all


20 Weeks?




Please Support PRO-LIFE Free Republic Today.
Thanks very much, and may God bless and keep you all.

5 posted on 05/17/2013 1:09:12 PM PDT by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
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To: onyx

Baby steps.


6 posted on 05/17/2013 1:17:02 PM PDT by AuH2ORepublican (If a politician won't protect innocent babies, what makes you think that he'll defend your rights?)
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To: Morgana

Well, it’s a start

Next 10 weeks, then 5 weeks, then 2, then 1, then ban outright.


7 posted on 05/17/2013 1:30:25 PM PDT by hattend (Firearms and ammunition...the only growing industries under the Obama regime.)
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To: hattend

Good, nothing angers a “liberal” woman more than the mere suggestion that it isn’t her God-given RIGHT to murder her unborn child.


8 posted on 05/17/2013 1:40:59 PM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: treetopsandroofs

An unborn child does not belong to any woman. They are but the conduit to bring the life into the world. The unborn child belongs to God and no one else. All this talk about a woman’s “right’ to murder a child that has not been born yet? How about the rights of the child to be born for a damn change. It makes me sick.


9 posted on 05/17/2013 6:18:49 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
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To: Morgana

While i support this effort, i think they need to work on debating a full ban on abortion in the US, rather than just steps towards is abolishing. Also, i think a US governor or two needs to step up and take the constitution and close down all abortion clinics in their respective states. Stand firm, and never let up. 1st, 5th, 14th.


10 posted on 05/17/2013 7:07:47 PM PDT by FutureRocketMan (Santorum 2016)
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To: Morgana

BTTT!


11 posted on 05/17/2013 7:58:42 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Morgana; xzins

I would prefer to use a bright line prohibiting any abortion after the baby is capable of bleeding.


12 posted on 05/18/2013 8:47:41 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (There can be no Victory without a fight and no battle without wounds.)
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To: P-Marlowe; Morgana; Salvation

As always, they will not permit this without the weasel words “life/health of mother” and render it totally unenforceable.

Again, this move has the appearance of doing some good for some infants, but its result is to: (1) make others think pro-life things are being done, even though abortions are still happening, and (2) to actually do nothing, given the certainty of a “health of the mother” clause in anything that has a prayer of passing.


13 posted on 05/18/2013 9:09:58 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: Morgana

Still not good enough. Not nearly good enough.


14 posted on 05/18/2013 9:51:26 AM PDT by conservativebabe
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To: Morgana
But I pray we can at least come together to agree that we can and should draw the line at the point that these innocent babies can feel the excruciating pain of these brutal procedures

Some of the extensive evidence that unborn children have the capacity to experience pain, at least by 20 weeks, is available on the NRLC website.

I want to look at that evidence. Much of the evidence about fetal pain comes from "researchers" with close ties to the abortion industry, and is therefore not to be trusted (because women who know that babies feel pain during an abortion are less likely to get pregnant in the first place).

The nervous system undergoes some of the most complex development of any system in the embryo/fetus. That suggests to me that the fetus is exquisitely able to feel, much earlier than the (abortion industry related) studies indicate.

The only way to be sure the fetus can feel no pain is to make sure to terminate it before any nervous system develops. So, before 3 weeks. Better yet, don't get pregnant in the first place. Surely, most women who don't want a kid don't need to go through the process of getting pregnant to figure it out--they know already.

15 posted on 05/18/2013 11:44:41 AM PDT by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: conservativebabe

Look at it this way. We have their attention.


16 posted on 05/18/2013 11:45:06 AM PDT by Morgana (Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: xzins
As always, they will not permit this without the weasel words “life/health of mother” and render it totally unenforceable.

Again, this move has the appearance of doing some good for some infants, but its result is to: (1) make others think pro-life things are being done, even though abortions are still happening, and (2) to actually do nothing, given the certainty of a “health of the mother” clause in anything that has a prayer of passing.

I know that "health of the mother" can be just about anything.

But what about language that restricts abortion to cases where the mother's life is clearly in danger? Ectopic pregnancy comes to mind. Also, because pregnancy weakens the immune system, a woman can develop a life-threatening infection during pregnancy. Hmm... what about language that clearly specifies risk to mother's life, and only in the case where the fetus is already dead or has no chance of survival? With the stipulation that reasonable attempts should be made to preserve the fetus' life where there is a chance of viability?

Bah, it's probably all just wishful thinking on my part. But if we keep pushing, we may get to a sane abortion policy, one which does NOT encourage women to use abortion as their primary/only form of birth control.

17 posted on 05/18/2013 11:54:12 AM PDT by exDemMom (Now that I've finally accepted that I'm living a bad hair life, I'm more at peace with the world.)
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To: exDemMom

The Senate democrats would never allow specific definitions to be in any law that they would vote for...just my humble opinion.


18 posted on 05/18/2013 1:59:50 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True supporters of our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: Morgana

Best of luck. The most powerful bastard in the world wants to raise the limit to 3 years...


19 posted on 05/18/2013 2:18:41 PM PDT by Wanderer99
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To: AuH2ORepublican

I was born in 1962, 3 months premature.
I am now 50 and alive and raisin’ Cain, with grandkids (although the grandkids aren’t allowed to raise as much Cain as Grandpa).
1 lbs 8 oz from what I’ve been told.
I could be held in one hand.
Doctors told my Father “Don’t bother namimg him, he won’t be here in the morning (so goes the Legend).”

Let’s not give up this fight.

Baby steps, indeed, but steps,nonetheless.


20 posted on 05/18/2013 3:28:26 PM PDT by GrouchoTex (...and ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free....)
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