Wisconsin Senate Overwhelmingly Approves Born Alive Bill
by Paul Nowak
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
October 27, 2003
Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) — The Wisconsin Senate overwhelmingly passed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, with a vote of 31-1.
The Act, AB 372, which protects infants born alive after botched abortions, had passed in the state Assembly unanimously. The bill will now be presented to pro-abortion Governor Jim Doyle (D), who has not indicated whether he will sign the bill.
"We hope that Governor Doyle will extend the tremendous bipartisan support for the Born Alive Infant Protection Act by immediately signing this measure into law," Barbara Lyons, Executive Director for Wisconsin Right to Life, said in a statement following the vote. “A baby born alive following an abortion is entitled to the same legal rights and protections as any other infant born alive.”
The term "born alive" is defined as being completely extracted from a mother’s womb and taking a breath, having a heart beat or moving voluntary muscles. The bill was authored by Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) and Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin).
"This legislation draws a bright line between abortion and infanticide," said Susan Armacost, Legislative Director of Wisconsin Right to Life. “Once the baby is completely removed from the mother’s body, the pregnancy has been terminated. Roe v. Wade did not grant a right to a dead baby."
"There is widespread agreement that these tiny abortion survivors should not be subjected to the outrageous atrocities that have been inflicted on so many of them,” concluded Armacost.
During the joint public hearing on the legislation, medical personnel detailed numerous atrocities inflicted on babies who had survived abortion, including leaving the babies to starve and die with no comfort or care prior to their deaths.
More than 30 states have similar pro-life laws, and President George W. Bush signed a bill protecting babies on the federal level.
However, the federal version of the law deals only with federal statues and regulations, so Wisconsin and other states must pass their own versions to handle cases dealing with state regulations.
Related web sites:
Wsiconin Right to Life – https://www.wrtl.org
