Parental Notice Law passes Nevada Assembly, battle now is to get hearing in state Senate

By Dave Andrusko

When last we posted on Nevada’s parental notification bill, AB405 had been resurrected and was to be heard by the Assembly.

The good news is that last Friday the measure passed 24-17! Were this to become law, the abortionist would be required to notify parents when their minor daughter (under 18) wants to obtain an abortion via a written notice delivered personally or by certified mail. There is a judicial bypass provision.

Opponents criticized the law for the same reason they oppose any involvement/limitation/protection: it would “pu[t] a roadblock on a personal choice,” in the words of Democrat Assemblywoman Heidi Swank.

But Republican Assemblyman David Gardner called AB405 a “parental rights” measure. “This is a common sense bill,” he said, according to the Associated Press, neither a Republican nor Democratic issue.

Having overcome one hurdle, the measure now faces an uphill fight in the state Senate. There is talk the bill will not get a hearing in the Senate.

Nevada Right to Life sent out an alert yesterday, asking its members to contact the Senate Finance Committee. Among the many points the alert raised in favor of the bill

Parental notification laws provide common-sense protection for teen and pre-teen girls.

It is an undisputed fact that adolescents develop physically before fully maturing psychologically. They simply cannot make decisions that fully consider future consequences AND rarely know their full medical history. In fact, what physician would consider an unemancipated underage girl capable of giving true informed consent?

A teen’s parent is her biggest advocate and her best protector.

A teen’s parent has important medical information about the teen – often information the teen doesn’t know or won’t remember during a crisis.

A majority of Americans support parental involvement. A 2011 Gallup poll found 71% of Americans – including 72% of women and 61% of Democrats – favor PARENTAL CONSENT laws, a higher standard than Nevada is considering.

PREDATORS exploit young girls and use secret abortions to cover up their crimes.

• How can a parent provide proper and necessary pre- and post-abortion medical care, if they are completely unaware of the procedure? They are not even able to choose the doctor who would provide the best care.

Nevada Right to Life President Melissa Clement summed it up in one sentence: “Exactly who benefits from a 12 year old getting a secret abortion?”

For current information, go to NevadaMomsCare.org