Tennessee House, Senate Pass Pro-Life Bill to Help Stop Pressured Abortions
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 31, 2010
Nashville, TN (LifeNews.com) — The Tennessee state House and Senate today both approved pro-life legislation designed to help stop abortions on women who feel pressured to get them. Interviews and research studies have shown women can be pressured by a husband or boyfriend, employer, friends or family to get an abortion.
The chambers both voted on the Tennessee Freedom from Coercion Act (House Bill 3301/Senate Bill 3812) sponsored by pro-life Rep. Susan Lynn and pro-life Sen. Jack Johnson.
The bills require abortion facilities to post signs saying women can’t be pressured, forced or coerced to have an abortion against their will.
During the debate, Johnson, according to the Tennessean, said as many as 64 percent of women having abortions have said they felt some pressure to have one.
The Senate voted 28-2 for the bill and the House followed suit later Wednesday voting 87-8 for it.
The signs would read: "It is against the law for anyone, regardless of the person’s relationship to you, to coerce you into having or to force you to have an abortion."
Abortion centers failing to post the signs could be fined as much as $2,500.
Sen. Beverly Marrero of Memphis was one of two senators voting against the measure, along with Sen. Andy Berke of Chattanooga, both Democrats.
Tennessee Right to Life has been strongly supporting the legislation and urging state legislators to support it.
"The protective bill will force abortion facilities to prominently post non-coercion policies and impose penalties against facilities which do not comply. It will also reassure vulnerable women and girls that help and support are available," the group said.
"Too many women and girls face intense pressure and threats of abandonment or abuse if they refuse to ‘choose’ abortion," the pro-life group added.
Linda Norfleet of Hermitage was one of more than 100 pro-life people in the legislature for the vote and she told the newspaper this bill is good for women.
"The measure … represents a huge step forward on behalf of the safety of young women and their personal decisions, as well as safety for the life of their unborn child," she said.
Related web sites:
Tennessee Right to Life – https://www.tnrtl.org
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