By Olivia Gans Turner, President, Virginia Society for Human Life (VSHL)
For months VSHL has being alerting you to the very real threat of a “Right to Abortion Amendment” working through the General Assembly process. Well now we have learned that Virginia is not the only target state for the pro-abortion groups’ plans to create “safe haven” states where they could perform abortions with no life-saving regulations of any kind in the future.
On October 20th a similar version of the bill was introduced by pro-abortion legislators in the New Jersey Assembly. The bill is every bit as radical in effect as we expect the Virginia version to be. It will ban rational regulations and require funding of all abortions through private insurance programs and Medicaid!
Comments from New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy make it clear that the intention of the bill is to enshrine abortion as a permanent right, regardless of any future Supreme Court decision or federal action.
“As access to health care and the right to choose are under attack at the federal level, we will support, defend, and protect reproductive rights here in New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “The Reproductive Freedom Act will remove barriers to reproductive health, while reaffirming choice. Together, we stand unwavering in our commitment to work towards reproductive freedom for all New Jerseyans.”
And yes, it is all about abortion!
From the New Jersey bill’s sponsor, Assemblywoman Annette Chaparro: “The Reproductive Freedom Act makes certain that financial barriers do not prevent anyone from making their own personal health decisions when it comes to pregnancy-related care, including abortion. Key provisions of the bill require private insurance coverage for abortion care with no out-of-pocket costs, to ensure that a person’s income or insurance status do not dictate their ability to access time-sensitive health care.”
It is very clear that pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood have a new strategy in place to prevent pro-life action in our state legislatures in the future. They understand that most people support the rational commonsense laws that groups like VSHL have successfully helped to pass in state and federal legislation. They know those laws save lives and help mothers make decisions that give their babies life. These dangerous bills will strip out all those laws and prevent any new ones!
VSHL is carefully monitoring the Virginia General Assembly right now as the Members gear up for the 2021 Session. New bills will be introduced very soon and as soon as we see the new status of the proposed Virginia Amendment, we will let you, our members and supporters, know about it too.
In the meantime, please take this problem very seriously. Share this message with your friends. Make sure they are aware of what the pro-abortion Members of the General Assembly are planning. Follow the VSHL Facebook page for updates as well.
One of the most important things you can do right now is to renew your VSHL membership. Encourage your friends and family to become members right now.
Planned Parenthood has Virginia in their sights, and we need to be ready to fight back. There is a lot to be done to educate the public about what this proposed radical amendment would actually do.
VSHL is taking this threat very seriously. We are looking at every means we may have to stop this amendment that pro-life Delegate Kathy Byron called “Roe v. Wade on crack”!
Thank you for helping VSHL at this critical time.