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Why Should Every State Pass the Pro Life Legislation
You may be asking yourself, "Why should every state pass the pro life legislation?" The bills currently in the House and Senate are pushing for various things within their particular states. Some states fought for, and in some cases already won, a variety of issues regarding the pro life legislation, but the primary goal of this movement is that it becomes a constitutional amendment. Because legislation is malleable as well as subject to the particular goals of the states, only a constitutional amendment would make it illegal to have abortions in every state. Even federal legislation could be overturned by a very liberal majority.
Work Being Done at the State Level
The work now being done at the state level is, however, very important. When one state finds a creative way to challenge current legislation, other states will follow. As well, if there is ever to be a constitutional amendment, three-fourths of the states will need to adopt it. The more restrictions that each state puts on abortions, the more likely they are to support an amendment. Some notable legislation has recently been passed in several states.
Tennessee
Tennessee, which recently passed its first pro life legislation in seven years, now "requires clinics to post signs stating it is illegal to coerce a woman to have an abortion." Women can be pressured by their boyfriend or husband, employer, family and friends, clinics, or any combination of these. When emotions are already running high, it is sometimes easier just to break down and give in under all that pressure. Tennessee's pro life senator, Jack Johnson, reported that 64% of women having abortions said they felt some pressure to have one.
Nebraska
The landmark legislation passed by Nebraska is likely to go all the way to the Supreme Court. This pro life legislation bans abortions after 20 weeks (with certain exceptions contingent on health risks to the mother), stating the fetus can feel pain at that age. This actually takes the best interest of the unborn baby into account. If this is allowed to stand, it will undermine the Roe vs. Wade ban on abortion restrictions, opening the door to others states fighting for similar legislation.
Abortion Covered Insurance
Louisiana is working to pass legislation that would bar private insurers from covering "elective abortions", including by women who are victims of rape or incest. Abortion procedures performed to save the life of the pregnant woman would be the only exception to this. Mississippi signed a bill making it unlawful for insurance companies to cover abortions in government exchanges. In Oklahoma, lawmakers overturned a veto requiring doctors to answer nearly 40 questions about abortions they perform. At least 12 other states are considering new abortion laws.
So why should every state pass the pro life legislation? Because "90% of the pro life legislation happens at the state's level," according to Daniel S. McConchie, vice president for government affairs at American's United for Life, an anti-abortion group. This year, at least 24 states have already passed legislation, and many others have similar legislation waiting to be voted on. Every step taken towards the goal of passing a new Constitutional Amendment to ban abortions in the United States is a step in the right direction.
References
The New York Times, LifeNews.com, and Guttmacher Institute
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