By Olivia Gans Turner, President, Virginia Society for Human Life (VSHL)
(Left to right) Oliva Gans Turner, president, Virginia Society for Human Life, Ed Gillespie, and Karen Cross, NRLC Political Director
Leroy Carhart. Do you know that name? If you are a dedicated pro-lifer you need to. He is the brazen abortionist who is boldly performing abortions through the ninth month of pregnancy in the state next door, Maryland.
In 2010 he was plying his deadly trade in Nebraska and unfortunate women were being sent there to obtain his gruesome services to end their babies’ lives up to the day before birth. He claimed to be a hero for women, but all he was and continues to be is another example of how Roe v. Wade protected abortionists and not mothers or their precious unborn children.
Then something huge happened. In 2010 the Nebraska legislature passed the first Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the country. That law made it illegal for Leroy, and others like him, to kill unborn children after 20 weeks, when they can feel the horrible pain an abortion causes. This powerful bill halted one man’s deadly activities with one stroke of the Nebraska Governor’s pen.
Since that time, fifteen other states have passed laws like Nebraska’s, protecting more and more unborn children and causing a national debate on the humanity of these babies. It has also pushed Leroy Carhart out of other states and now he is scrambling to keep his horrific practice going right next door to the Commonwealth!
For the last four years, VSHL has worked hard to see the passage of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in Virginia. We are so grateful to Del. Dave La Rock and Del. Rich Anderson who were brave enough to take on the patronage of this life saving bill.
Del. LaRock has been the sponsor for three years now. Many other members of the General Assembly have shown their commitment by becoming co-patrons. There has been one major roadblock, however: the pro-abortion Governor. Without a pro-life Governor this bill will never become law in our state.
Now we are so close! We must elect pro-life Ed Gillespie in order to make this bill become law. Without this law there is nothing preventing Leroy Carhart, or his cronies, from setting up shop right here.
Steven Brigham, an abortionist and facility owner from Virginia Beach, is already doing abortions in the second trimester, including after 20 weeks, when the unborn baby can feel pain. Brigham already lost his doctor’s license in New Jersey due to botched abortions that led to the death of at least one woman.
We must pass this law to prevent Brigham from doing it again here!
Please make sure you are informed about where the candidates stand. If you don’t know who the pro-life candidates are please look at the www.vshlpac.org website for a full list of endorsed statewide and House of Delegate candidates. Please share it with your friends.
The November 7 election is so important. We must move the balance of power back to the pro-life side.
It is clear from the overwhelming number of co-patrons for the bill during the 2017 General Assembly that there is real desire to finally get some pro-life bills passed and signed again. Now pro-life voters have to do their part. If you can’t vote November 7, you may request a mail-in absentee ballot until Oct 31st, or absentee-vote in person until Nov. 4th.
Please remember that the work of VSHL depends on your support. We are always at your service as well. Contact the office at our new email address anytime, vshl@verizon.net, or call 804-560-8745. You can make a donation here.
On to a pro-life Victory!
Olivia Gans Turner, VSHL President