FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2023
Contact: Kelsey Pritchard, [email protected]
RICHMOND, Virginia – In a vote this morning, Democrats in a subcommittee of the Virginia Senate ignored science and 61% of likely Virginia voters by blocking legislation to protect unborn babies at a point when they can feel pain.
Senate Bill 1385, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Newman (R-23) and advocated by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, would have limited abortion after 15 weeks – a point by which science reveals unborn children can feel pain – with exceptions in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.
SBA Pro-Life America’s Southern Regional Director Caitlin Connors shared her reaction:
“We are deeply disappointed that Democrats in the Virginia Senate sided with the radical abortion lobby against the will of the people. They callously ignore the pain of unborn children killed in abortions at 15 weeks and beyond, as revealed by science, and ignore the strong majority of voters who want to protect unborn babies and their mothers at least by this point. Two-thirds of Virginians reject the extreme status quo in the Commonwealth which allows for abortions late in pregnancy, even up to the moment of birth. This humane legislation would save up to 500 lives a year and bring Virginia into line with 47 of 50 European nations that limit abortion after 15 weeks – in fact most of them have limits earlier at 12 weeks. With our allies we will continue fighting for this bill to get the consideration it deserves in the Assembly.”
By 15 weeks of gestation, an unborn baby’s major organs have been formed, his or her heart has beat more than 15 million times, and the baby responds to touch and has been practicing breathing for up to six weeks.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a network of more than one million pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
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