The pain an unborn child feels is real, unimaginable

The first federal legislation since Roe v. Wade that would protect an unborn child after 20 weeks in the womb – already passed in June by the U.S. House of Representatives – was introduced in the U.S. Senate Nov. 6 by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.      
At a press conference in front of the federal courthouse on Poydras Street, Louisiana Right to Life executive director Benjamin Clapper called on Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who is seeking re-election in 2014, to support and co-sponsor the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

Holding a one-pound spaghetti squash, about 11 inches long, to symbolize the size of the unborn baby at 20 weeks, Clapper asked Landrieu to “consider and co-sponsor the legislation.”
  
“We are not equating, of course, these babies to the value of a squash, although the laws in our nation treat unborn children in some ways as about equivalent to a spaghetti squash,” Clapper said. “These children we are trying to protect through this legislation have fingers and toes. Some can even live outside the womb. We’re talking about real children, real lives. This legislation is going to prevent late abortion in America.”
Urges Sen. Landrieu’s backing
  
Clapper urged Landrieu “not only to vote for the legislation in the end when it comes up for a vote, but we also need her to co-sponsor the legislation now and actively work for its passage.”
  
“It’s critical that Sen. Landrieu does that and represents Louisiana,” Clapper said. “Louisiana is a pro-life state, shown by poll after poll. This is a common-sense piece of legislation that Sen. Landrieu should stand with us on.”
  
Asked about Clapper’s call to support and co-sponsor the bill, Landrieu replied in a statement: “Life is precious, and I believe a gift from God, but every birth involves at least two lives: the life of the unborn child and the life of the mother. I want to support a bill that protects and values both.”
    
Landrieu promised to “review Sen. Graham’s legislation and continue to be open to views of constituents and medical experts to see if this bill, or something similar, could achieve both of these goals. I appreciate the leadership of the Catholic Church in recognizing my work on child welfare and adoption, and I value them as a true partner in this ongoing and important effort.”
    
In June, the House of Representatives passed a similar bill by a 228-196 margin, with the entire Louisiana Congressional delegation – with the exception of Rep. Cedric Richmond – voting for it. Ten states, including Louisiana, have laws protecting the unborn child in the womb after 20 weeks.

Stance is unclear
After the house vote, Clapper said, Landrieu “indicated that in the past, she had voted to protect babies from late-term abortion, but she wasn’t sure about this, and she considered this mid-term abortion.”
    
“We consider this late abortion, and it’s something that these babies need to be protected,” Clapper said. “Regardless of whether it’s late, mid or early, all these babies deserve our respect, and all of them deserve value from our government and our society.
    
“This legislation is commonplace in most civilized countries around the world, whether it’s Russia, the United Kingdom, France or Germany,” Clapper added. “All these countries protect babies and do not allow late abortions. The United States needs to join those countries as soon as possible. This legislation will take us one step closer to that goal. The critical neurological details show us they can feel pain at 20 weeks. All the physical capabilities are present at that moment for that unborn child to feel pain.”

Development in the womb
Also speaking at the press conference was local attorney Janell Gaudin, who is pregnant with twins who are 16 weeks gestational age.
    
“My babies have fingers, toes and all of their vital organs,” Gaudin said. “Today they are the size of a bell pepper, and in four weeks, they’ll be the size of a spaghetti squash. I just started to be able to feel them move, and in only four weeks, they will have all the physical and neurological capabilities to feel pain, just like you and me. At that time, they will fall under the protection of this critical legislation.”
    
“I want our nation to protect all babies, including those like my twins at 16 weeks,” she added. “However, for today, let’s focus on the legislation to protect babies in the last four months of pregnancy. This is the least we can do for the least among us. Who among us would choose to inflict pain on any life when we had the opportunity to protect it?”
    
Clapper said the legislation also would put an end to the late-term abortion and infanticide practices highlighted by the murder trial of Dr. Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia.
    
“Because the laws of our nation are ambiguous and because they allow abortion up until the time before birth, it’s easy for someone like Kermit Gosnell to blur the line between babies in the womb and babies outside the womb,” Clapper said.
    
Landrieu has been “an avid supporter of adoption,” Clapper said, which makes it even more important that she supports the bill. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., is one of 25 Senate co-sponsors.
    
“This will be the first time since 1973 that our country will have passed a law that protects a whole class of unborn children,” Clapper said.
    
Peter Finney Jr. can be reached at [email protected].