Kansas Pro-Abortion Lawmaker Fined Who Attacked Pro-Life Advocate

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 16, 2007   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Kansas Pro-Abortion Lawmaker Fined Who Attacked Pro-Life Advocate Email this article
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 16
, 2007

Topeka, KS (LifeNews.com) — A pro-abortion Kansas lawmaker charged with one count of battery for attacking a pro-life advocate at a campaign rally for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has pleaded guilty. Rep. Vaughn Flora, a Democrat, was accused of attacking Troy Newman at the rally while Newman poked fun at Sebelius over the issue of abortion.

During the September 9 rally, Newman dressed up in a cockroach outfit and donned a Sebelius mask and pretended to be her campaign mascot.

Newman’s actions, which he regarded as political satire, were meant to highlight Sebelius’ veto of a measure that would have provided for more safety regulations on abortion facilities. Newman dressed like a roach because his pro-life group recently purchased a former abortion business and found dead roaches on the floors.

Flora was upset by the antics and tried to grab the Sebelius mask off of Newman’s face, which resulted in cuts and abrasions on Newman, the head of the pro-life group Operation Rescue.

Reno County prosecutors filed charges against Flora saying he acted in a “rude, insulting and angry manner.”

Flora received a 30 day suspended jail sentence and was ordered to pay a fine of $100 and court costs of $128.

Newman told LifeNews.com he’s not happy with the slap on the wrist Flora received.

"I hold no ill will toward Mr. Flora, but really, the message being sent here is that if you are willing to part with a hundred bucks, you can punch a pro-lifer," said Newman. "That’s really not much of a deterrent."

"I think what Flora is ultimately guilty of is a lack of sense of humor," said Newman.

Flora has been in the legislature since 1995 and ran unopposed this year.