Thursday, April 22, 2010

Kansas Spreads Out the Welcome Mat for Late Term Abortions

The Governor of Kansas has thrown his hat into the ring for ensuring that Kansas remains the Late-Term Abortion Capital of the United States. A bill requiring doctors to furnish the specific diagnosis justifying a late-term abortion was vetoed by Governor Mark Parkinson on April 16, 2010.

The bill would have helped law enforcement agencies determine if late-term abortions done after viability are being done in compliance with the law. “Viability” is the point at which the fetus becomes potentially able to live outside the mother’s womb, which is typically agreed to be around 24 weeks, even though there are living and breathing people who were born after only 21 weeks gestational age.

In defending his decision, Governor Parkinson said that according to his viewpoint, all abortions are tragedies, which is why he would encourage women who have unwanted pregnancies to consult with their partners, families, doctors and spiritual advisors. He also said that he would not encourage women to consult with state legislators, as this is a private decision and should not be dictated by public officials. Due to the fact that “viability” means that a child is capable of living outside of the mother’s womb, a frivolous late-term abortion is equivalent to murder. Yet the governor says that these procedures are strictly a woman’s decision, and the law has no place in the matter.

Peter Brownlie, chief executive officer and president of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri said he is grateful that the governor vetoed the bill. Brownlie continued, saying that he wished the Kansas legislature would focus on passing the state’s budget rather than engaging in a sham exercise in political posturing. In addition to those remarks, he said that the Kansas legislature should stop wasting time playing political games with women’s health.

Kansas’ current state law bans abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy unless a physician certifies that continuing the pregnancy would cause serious harm to the woman. But currently, doctors are not required to provide the specific diagnosis justifying the abortion. “What,” you may ask, “does the governor’s veto do?” It ensures that the existing laws on late-term abortions cannot and will not be enforced.

In Kansas, doctors may perform late-term abortions if they believe that the pregnancy seriously threatens the mental or physical health of the would-be mother. According to abortion opponents, that provision means that some of the procedures are carried out for reasons as flimsy as not wanting to miss a school dance. In 2008, there were 323 late-term abortions performed in Kansas.

This veto was rendered by a man who was put in office by an electorate made up of a Christian majority. How is it that laws are made and manipulated by representatives who have been put in office by supposedly life-respecting people? For an in depth revelation of our society’s slow but sure move to the dark side, read Shadow Truth: The Ultimate Deception by Larry J. Tate. Go to http://www.shadowtruthbook.com/ for ordering information.

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