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By
Don Nelson
Reno Gazette Journal
March 13, 2011
Thirty-eight years and
53 million abortions
after Roe vs. Wade
struck down abortion
restrictions in all 50
states, pro-life is the
"new normal," and the
recent elections and
polling show a consensus
that should be acted on
right now.
Americans, including
many who are pro-choice,
oppose taxpayer and
government funding of
abortion, want more
disclosure for women
considering abortion,
oppose late abortions
and support a parent's
right to know. Here's
what needs to be done:
1. Pass government-wide
prohibitions on abortion
funding and subsidies.
Obamacare's abortion
funding and subsidy
provisions will lead to
the largest increase in
abortion since Roe. A
2010 Zogby/O'Leary poll
found that 76 percent of
Americans said that
federal funds should
never pay for abortion,
or pay only to save the
life of the mother.
Opposition to
Obamacare's abortion
funding and subsidies
played a significant
role in the Republican
takeover in the House of
Representatives.
The No Taxpayer Funding
of Abortion Act
is a government-wide
prohibition on federal
funding and subsidies
for abortion, including
Obamacare. It would end
the yearly amendments
and skirmishes to
prevent federal funding
of abortion at home and
around the world.
The Protect Life Act
prohibits funding and
subsidies for abortion
in Obamacare. It
strengthens conscience
protections for medical
personnel and
institutions and
provides remedies for
those who experience
discrimination for
refusal to participate
in, refer, provide or
undergo training or pay
for abortions.
2. Pass more informed
consent laws.
Some states are
proposing and passing
laws requiring
ultrasounds be performed
for women considering
abortion. They require
that women have the
right to see the
ultrasound and hear a
description of the
unborn. Studies show
that abortion has
long-term physical,
emotional and relational
impact. Women
considering abortion
have a right to know.
3. Pass late-abortion
bans.
Nebraska's Pain-Capable
Unborn Child Protection
Act bans abortions from
20 weeks because of
evidence that the unborn
feels pain by 20 weeks.
It has ended late
abortions in Nebraska
except for rare
instances.
4. Pass and enforce more
parental notification
laws.
Parental involvement
laws have helped cut
teen abortions in half.
Nevada's parental
notification law has
never been enforced.
That means girls as
young as 12 can have an
invasive surgical
abortion in Nevada
without a parent's
knowledge.
The continuing scandals
and recent allegations
regarding abuses at
several Planned
Parenthood affiliates
uncovered by independent
journalists posing as
sex traffickers for teen
prostitution rings shows
how badly we need
Nevada's law enforced
and why the Pence
Amendment to cut off all
federal funding from
Planned Parenthood is so
necessary.
Don Nelson is president
of Nevada LIFE (Life
Issues Forum and
Education).
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