Posted on 01/28/2003 9:02:39 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at pilotonline.com ...
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)
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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.
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