The Reformed Advisor

Tag: protection

BOOM! West Virginia Gets It Right By Passing Pro Life Law

Posted on June 1, 2015 in Life by

West Virginia has been on a dubious list for a very long time. We were one of just 9 states that had not one single law limiting abortion in any way. What that meant is that anyone could abort a child for any reason up to the moment of birth in West Virginia. And yet West Virginia has always been held as one of the most pro-life states in the country. It doesn’t make any sense.

But the state changed all that by becoming one of 11 states to pass a 20 week abortion bill. This means that abortions beyond the 20 week period without significant medical reason are now illegal. The Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is a significant step in the right direction in defending the most vulnerable West Virginians.

Despite being vetoed twice by our “pro-life” governor, the State Legislature did the right thing in overriding Gov. Tomblins veto and making sure this important piece of legislation was passed. Now it has become law and West Virginians can be proud of the work of their legislature.

A recent article comments on this new law:

This Picture Proves Why We Need the 20 Week Abortion Ban

Posted on March 16, 2015 in Life by

As a resident of West Virginia, I am proud that our state legislature not only passed the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” I am proud that they passed it, then overrode the governor’s veto to make it state law.

Why is this an important bill?

The picture in this post is of a baby boy named David that died by miscarriage at 7 weeks old. What is immediately obvious by looking at the picture is that the unborn child is…a living human being! It is easy to identify arms, legs, the head, and the eyes beginning to form. The fact that this child, before he died through miscarriage, had a heartbeat makes it clear that it is a living child.

A recent article commenting on this story shares the words of the mother in the wake of her loss:

Update: WV Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto – Passes First Abortion Ban in the State!

Posted on March 9, 2015 in Life by

Despite being vetoed last year, and then again this year, the West Virginia legislature has successfully overrode Gov. Tomblin’s veto to pass the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This means West Virginia now has it’s first abortion limiting law on the books. West Virginia was previously one of just nine states with not a single abortion limiting law in place. That meant a woman could get an abortion for any reason up to the moment of birth. Considering the fact that a vast majority of West Virginians are pro-life – that was simply not acceptable.

We were all disappointed when our “pro-life” governor vetoed this bill last year; a decision that told us all we need to know about where Tomblin stands on the issue of life. After a second veto this year, no one in West Virginia will ever wonder about Tomblin’s position or whether he will defend life – he won’t.

National Right to Life made the following comment concerning the legislature’s override:

“In a 27-5 vote, the West Virginia state Senate today joined with the state House of Delegates in voting to override Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s veto of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (HB 2568), legislation that protects unborn children from abortion at the point that they are able to feel pain. Tomblin’s veto came after the state House of Delegates and the state Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill in February. The legislature’s successful override of Gov. Tomblin’s veto means that the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act will go into effect in 90 days.”

Another article wrote:

Gov. Tomblin Vetoes 20 Week Abortion Bill Again! But Then This Happens…

Posted on March 6, 2015 in Life by

Gov. Tomblin – claiming to be pro-life – once again vetoed a bill that would make abortion after 20 weeks illegal. Currently, West Virginia is one of just 9 states that has no abortion limiting laws. In other words, a woman can get an abortion anytime up to the moment of birth for any reason in West Virginia. Ironically, most West Virginians are pro-life. But, we have elected leaders like Gov. Tomblin that claims to be pro-life but then vetoes pro-life bills. But, this story may have a happy ending after all.

A recent article reports that the West Virginia House of Delegates has overwhelmingly voted to override the Governor’s veto:

“The West Virginia state House overwhelmingly overrode a veto issued by West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin of a bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy on unborn babies who studies show can feel intense pain. Tomblin, who claims to be pro-life, has twice vetoed the pro-life legislation to protect unborn babies. The House voted 77-16 (7 not voting) to override the veto of HB 2568 and the state Senate is expected to follow suit.”

I applaud our delegates for doing what is right by protecting the most innocent and defenseless West Virginians. It’s a shame that our governor doesn’t have the moral fortitude to do the same, but I hope (and pray) the State Senate will follow the House example and override Tomblin’s veto.

Where does this leave Tomblin? Well, I heartily agree with pro-life leaders that expressed their disappointment with Tomblin’s veto:

VICTORY!? Abortion Bill Overwhelmingly Supported By West Virginia Legislature – Will Governor Veto?

Posted on March 2, 2015 in Life by

Once again, West Virginia lawmakers have listened to the voice of West Virginians, and the pulse of Americans nationwide, by overwhelmingly supporting – and passing, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This is a common sense measure intended to protect unborn children capable of feeling pain from being tortured via abortion.

A recent article states:

“By a vote of 29-5, the West Virginia state Senate today gave final approval to HB 2568, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act – a bill that protects unborn children from violent abortions after the point at which they are capable of feeling pain. The state House of Delegates passed the bill 88-12 on February 11, which included the support of two-thirds of the House Democrats.”

Pain Capable Bill Passes West Virginia House of Representatives

Posted on February 16, 2015 in Life by

Some good news came last week when it was reported that the latest version of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act has passed the state legislature with an overwhelming bi-partisan majority. The vote was 87-12 to be exact.

The bill was passed by the entire legislature last year only to be vetoed by our “pro-life” governor. Gov. Tomblin vetoed the bill saying his legal team believed it was unconstitutional. However, he did not get such information from Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and ignored the fact that nearly a dozen other states have similar laws on the books that have withstood judicial scrutiny.

This year, however, supporters of the bill believe that they have enough votes to override a veto from the governor. It was reported:

“The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, H.B. 2568, was introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates last week by Kelli Sobonya. Co-sponsors of the bill include Lynne Arvon, Saira Blair, Anna Border, Jeff Eldridge, Paul Espinosa, Kayla Kessinger, Ricky Moye, Ruth Rowan, Amy Summers, and Terry Waxman.”

The new Republican controlled house is making good on many campaign promises to social conservatives that want to see life in West Virginia defended. Ours is one of just nine states in the U.S. with not one single abortion law. In other words, a woman can abort a child up to the moment of birth for any reason. That is simply not good enough. The largest abortion clinic in the state, located in Charleston, is performing an average of 3 abortions per day – all day every day – and has not been inspected once since it opened in 1976. That is a problem.

My hat is off to the elected officials representing the values of a majority of West Virginians by passing this legislation. My hope and prayer is that it will next pass the full legislature and be signed by Gov. Tomblin.

Update: West Virginia Legislature Advances Bill to Ban Abortion

Posted on February 9, 2015 in Life by

I recently wrote about the intentions of the West Virginia legislature to reintroduce a bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks during this year’s legislative session.

This is important for several reasons. First, West Virginia is one of just nine states that has absolutely no restrictions on abortion; none. A woman can have an abortion the day she is due to deliver her baby and no one would say a word. If that is not shocking check your moral pulse. Somehow, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of West Virginians are pro-life, our lawmakers have never tried to defend the unborn. This bill would change that.

Another reason this is important is because it protects the most helpless citizens of our state. Those that can’t speak for themselves, can’t fight back, would be protected from an awful death. Most people have never seen an abortion and if they did, they’d look away. It’s nothing short of torture. Pieces are pulled out and oftentimes entire babies are pulled out and left to die. That’s not a practice we want happening in our state.

Last, the body of evidence showing that unborn children can feel pain at 20 weeks is growing exponentially. Only the most callous, science-denying person would dare challenge the notion that unborn children at 20 weeks can feel pain. That makes abortion murder AND torture.

Though the bill was passed last year, our “pro-life” governor vetoed it because he was advised it was “unconstitutional.” I guess the other dozen states that have similar laws on the books and have seen those laws withstand judicial challenge are just better than West Virginia. Or maybe facts are pesky things that just get in the way. Either way, the bill is advancing this year (HB2568) and will no doubt pass the legislature with another bi-partisan majority. The difference this time is that should Go.v Tomblin veto it, there is a very good chance the legislature will have the votes to override the veto and see the bill signed into law. We should be praying for such an end. Then West Virginia would join the other 40-some states that have at least one abortion limiting law on the books.

Is There Any Good Reasons to Defend Traditional Marriage?

Posted on September 24, 2014 in Marriage, Religious Freedom by

Though I am a Christian and would eagerly defend traditional marriage on theological grounds, I understand that others would not. I recognize that some would say marriage laws should not be based on religious convictions. Fine, but let me warn that all laws are based on morality. The question then becomes whose morality they are based upon. Is it better to base our laws on the morality of the atheist, the agnostic, the progressive liberal, or the conservative Christian that hold the same views our Founder’s did?

But, putting religion aside there is still plenty of reason to support traditional marriage.

In a very informative article at the Daily Caller several of the arguments in favor of same-sex “marriage” were presented and refuted. Arguments such as procreation and sterile couples, interracial marriage, and adoption were shown to be weak arguments in favor of same-sex “marriage.” Furthermore, those same arguments were shown to support traditional marriage.

More Judges. More Marriage Amendments Struck Down. More Confusion Over the 14th Amendment.

Posted on August 5, 2014 in Marriage by

So here we are, reading the news that yet another judge has struck down another voter-approved marriage protection amendment. This time both Virginia and Florida watched as judges simply tossed the voters’ voice aside and decided for the entire state what the definition of marriage will be. And the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, another group of judges, has decided that Oklahoma’s marriage protection amendment is unconstitutional struck it down.

That’s three more traditionally conservative states where LGBT activists and politicians alike had little chance of getting a voter-approved measure legalizing gay “marriage” past the people. So, they circumvented the people, trampled both the Constitution and the voter-approved marriage protection amendments, and forced their will on the entire state.

WV Senate President Kessler Tells Gov. Tomblin to Call Special Session to Address 20 Week Abortion Ban

Posted on June 3, 2014 in Life by

According to Alliance Alert: West Virginia Senate President Jeff Kessler (D) today added more pressure to the call for a special session to address the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, the bill that Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) vetoed at the end of the regular session in March.

Appearing today on MetroNews “Talkline,” Kessler said, “We have a pro-life majority in leadership and I think we can get this issue addressed and put it behind us and move on to other topics that also need to be addressed.”

Gov. Tomblin has said he would again veto the bill, arguing it is unconstitutional. House Speaker Tim Miley again brought up cost. “I don’t believe West Virginia taxpayers will understand why lawmakers would be so eager to quickly return to Charleston at great expense to attempt to pass legislation destined for a long legal battle and a very uncertain future,” he said.

Kessler rebutted both contentions in his appearance on Talkline. Had he thought the law was unconstitutional, Kessler said he wouldn’t have voted for it in the first place.

“Kessler argued the bill already has overwhelming support among legislators and just needs another chance to pass,” according to reporter Shauna Johnson of West Virginia Metro News. Kessler said, “We are going to have a pain capable bill. That’s a given.”

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