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:

 “West Virginia is now one of 11 states to have a 20-week abortion ban in effect and the U.S House of Representatives passed a federal ban earlier this month that now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. More than 18,000 ‘very late term’ abortions are performed every year on perfectly healthy unborn babies in America. ‘West Virginia has taken an important step in protecting its most vulnerable members of the human family,’ said Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., National Right to Life director of state legislation. ‘Pain-capable unborn children should be protected from the violent act of a dismemberment abortion, or whatever twisted method the abortion industry has cooked up this week. In our upside-down society, most animals have more rights than unborn members of the human family. We are thankful the West Virginia legislature has recognized their solemn duty in protecting the lives of the most vulnerable.’…By a vote of 29-5, the West Virginia state Senate 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.”

We often criticize our lawmakers when they do something we don’t like. Let’s be sure to show our support and thank them for this step in protecting the unborn. You can send an email to any member of the State Legislature or to all of them by clicking here.