Neb. Fetal Pain Bill Advanced: Late-Term Bills in Two States Could Limit Carhart's Abortion Business
by Staff
April 12, 2010
TOPEKA, Kan., (christiansunite.com) -- Today, the Nebraska legislature gave final approval on a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks gestation, when pre-born babies are known to feel pain. This bill, which is expected to be signed into law, would severely hamper the late-term abortion business of LeRoy Carhart, and could force him to relocate his late-term abortion business to another state, or close it altogether.Meanwhile, Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson has one week to act on a bill that would strengthen reporting requirements for late-term abortions and provide families the ability to sue an abortionist if they believe a family member was giving a late-term abortion illegally.
Parkinson has until April 15 to sign or veto the measure, which was passed by wide margins in both houses of the legislature. If he does nothing, it will automatically become law.
That bill, HB 2115, would require abortionists to report the precise diagnosis used to justify abortions beyond 22 weeks, or viability. Kansas law currently bans post- viability abortions unless the continuation of the pregnancy would present a "substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function" of the pregnant woman. Since 2000, that law has been interpreted to include "mental health" as long as the mental health risk was "substantial and irreversible."
In recent years, evidence surfaced that abortions were being done for frivolous reasons under the guise of the mental health exception.
One abortionist who was responsible for many of those abortions was Nebraska's LeRoy Carhart. After the closure of the Wichita abortion clinic where he worked, Carhart has indicated he would like to reopen a late-term abortion clinic in Kansas. So far, a campaign by Operation Rescue has prevented him from doing so.
"In the past, it has been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for law enforcement to determine if late-term abortions in Kansas have been done in compliance with the law because the abortion clinic would report that the reason for late-term abortions was simply 'mental health.' This law would lift the veil of ambiguity and allow the authorities to determine if there have been criminal abortions," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "That would mean greater safe-guards for women and their viable babies that the laws have been enacted to protect. Only someone with a political agenda to protect the abortion cartel would veto this bill and deny law enforcement the ability to determine if criminal abortions have occurred or are occurring."
Parkinson, a staunch abortion supporter, is expected to veto the bill.
"It is imperative that the Kansas bill passes into law. So far we have been able to keep late-term abortions out of Kansas, but if this law is vetoed, it will be like sending an engraved invitation to Carhart and other abortionists that late-term abortions for any reason at all are welcome in Kansas. That is a message our society cannot afford to send," said Newman.
About Operation Rescue® Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.
