WASHINGTON -- September, 1999 -- "A groundswell of opposition to partial-birth abortion is sweeping the country," Family Research Council Chief Spokesperson Janet Parshall said Friday. "Victories in Missouri and Virginia this week build terrific momentum for grassroots efforts to pass a federal ban of this horrific late-term abortion procedure, which is performed thousands of times each year."
This week, Missouri's Democratic House and Senate overrode Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan's veto of the partial-birth abortion ban. Missouri is the fourth state to override a governor's veto of a partial-birth abortion law. The ban is set apart from other state laws because it creates a felony crime called "infanticide" in the state's criminal code. Anyone who causes "the death of a living infant ... by an overt act performed when the infant is partially born or born" is subject to charges. Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit Friday and the law was temporarily blocked for 10 days until a trial date can be set.
0n Wednesday, a Virginia court of appeals ruled that the state may enforce its partial-birth abortion ban pending appeal of a lower-court ruling that declared the ban unconstitutional.
"In 29 states, the American people have indicated their strong opposition to partial-birth abortion by passing laws to ban the procedure," Parshall said. "However, in many states, the laws have been struck down by a handful of judges. The veto override this week in Missouri is especially noteworthy because it demonstrates the broad bipartisan support that exists for banning this barbaric procedure. It's time for judicial activists to step aside and acknowledge that this procedure involves the destruction of an innocent human life. If America's founding principles are to be upheld, this horrific practice must stop."
FRC has compiled a report containing excerpts from court opinions on partial-birth abortion laws enacted by various states. Written by Teresa Wagner, FRC's Legal Analyst for Sanctity of Life and Human Rights Issues, "The Truth in Black and White" contains excerpts from the practitioners and judicial defenders of partial-birth abortion in cases challenging the law in ten states. "If anything could be as shocking as the brutality of this procedure, it would be the apparent indifference of the professionals who describe it," Wagner said.
SOURCE Family Research Council