Nebraska Lawmakers to Vote on Abortion-Ultrasound Bill for Final Time on Friday
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 27, 2009
Lincoln, NE (LifeNews.com) — Nebraska lawmakers will cast their final vote Friday on a bill to allow women a chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn child before an abortion is done. The bill is similar to legislation in more than 15 other states that pro-life advocates say helps women understand the humanity of the unborn child.
The unicameral legislature voted 37-5 to move the bill, LB 675, ahead earlier this month.
Family First, a pro-life and pro-family group, has devoted a substantial amount of time working on ultrasound legislation this session and is urging lawmakers to pass the bill.
"We believe that the ability to see an ultrasound prior to the abortion is an essential part of truly informed consent. Ultrasound technology provides a window into the reality of life inside of the womb," the group said.
Sen. John Harms of Scottsbluff hopes the bill will help lower the number of abortions in the state.
"Abortion is an irrevocable decision that’s just loaded with future emotional and psychological scars for a woman," he said during the debate earlier this month.
Julie Schmit-Albin, the executive director of Nebraska Right to Life, has also been strongly supporting the measure.
"LB 675 will ensure that an ultrasound of a pregnant woman’s unborn child will be on display at least one hour prior to an abortion, giving the mother the opportunity to view her unborn child on the screen if she so chooses," she told LifeNews.com previously.
"LB 675 puts the responsibility back on the abortionist where it belongs; ensuring that the ultrasound screen is displayed in such a manner that the mother can make the decision to look or not look at the screen," said Schmit-Albin. "This is an improvement over the current system where abortionists claim they offer the mother the option to view her child, but may not be displaying the screen towards her."
Senator Beau McCoy made the Mother’s Right to See Her Unborn Child/Ultrasound bill a priority for the session so it would have a chance for a debate and vote.
The legislation gives women an opportunity to see an ultrasound of their unborn child before making the decision to have an abortion. When used in pregnancy centers, as many as 80 percent of women choose abortion alternatives instead.
LB 675 has 14 co-sponsors, including Sen. McCoy, and they include Senators Mike Flood; Mike Friend, Chris Langemeier, Arnie Stuthman, Pete Pirsch, Deb Fischer, Abbie Cornett, Scott Price, Mark Christensen, Scott Lautenbaugh, Charlie Janssen,Tom Carlson, and Ken Schilz.
If passed, Legislative Bill 675 "will be one of the strongest ultrasound laws in the country," Albin says.
"If passed, LB 675 would ensure that the mother, at least one hour prior to the abortion, has a window to the womb. She should be given every opportunity to see her baby and reject the abortion at that point," she said.
ACTION: Ask your member of the legislature to support the abortion-ultrasound bill. Go to https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov
Related web sites:
Nebraska Right to Life – https://www.nerighttolife.org
Nebraska Legislature – https://www.nebraskalegislature.gov
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