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'Choose Life' License Plate Legislation
Pending
By Patricia Spencer
HERALD Staff Writer
RESTON — "So many little faces are gone from
this picture," said
Virginia Delegate Richard Black at a recent
press conference, gesturing to the group of children sitting near Santa
Claus.
"It seems that everyone who favors abortion rights says abortions shouldbe safe, legal and rare. Let’s do something to make these abortions rare," said Black, a member of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Great Falls. "Christmas is a season of hope and joy."
The press conference, in conjunction with the American Life League, washeld at the Hyatt Hotel in Reston to introduce his legislative initiative onthe "Choose Life" license plate (House Bill 1464), scheduled for theupcoming legislative session beginning Jan. 13. Earlier in 1998, a similarbill passed the Florida legislature but was vetoed by the former governor,Lawton Chiles.
Florida's newly installed Governor, Jeb Bush, vowed to re-introduce the legislation during the state's next legislative session.
Funds from the license plate sales would go to Virginia centers for women experiencing difficult pregnancies and would also promote adoptions. Black said that the message on the plates would draw attention to and encouragement of adoption over abortion.
The plates’ annual fee is $25, in addition
to the regular fee for state
license plates. For each specialty plate fee
over 1,000 registrations, $15 will be paid into a nonreverting state account
and credited to the Choose Life Fund.
"Virginia already has specialty plates supporting
the environment,
encouraging sterilization of dogs and cats,
celebrating the tobacco industry and expressing support for the National
Rifle Association," he said in an earlier statement.
"Run, not walk, to engage all your co-workers,
family and friends to
endorse this bill," said Judie Brown, founder
and president of American Life League (ALL)
in Stafford, so that pre-born children will be given life, "rather than
to end up on an abortion mill floor."
Other organizations supporting the initiative include AAA Women for Choice, Bethany Christian Services, Care Net, Catholic Diocese of Richmond, the Christian Coalition, Concerned Women for America, Family Life Office of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, the Family Foundation, the Home School Legal Defense Fund, the Knights of Columbus, Les Femmes, National Council for Adoption, Northern Virginia Republican Political Action Committee, Virginia Eagle Forum and Virginia Right to Life.
Also speaking at the conference was Rev. Rob Schenck, general secretary of the National Clergy Council. He pointed out his son Matthew, a member of ALL’s Rock for Life band who was attending the press conference, as an example of youths advocating this pro-life message. Matthew, and Erik Whittington, the musical group’s assistant director, were there to show support for the initiative.
"It seems that so many people still don’t realize that there are four times as many pregnancy help centers as there are abortion mills in this country," said Bryan Kemper, Rock for Life’s founder, in a news release issued the previous day.
"Would everyone please hold up one finger," asked Joe Duvall of the audience. "When you press it on glass, you see that the print is absolutely unique." Each human being is unlike any other, and abortion can destroy these singular creations of God, he said. Duvall, dressed as Santa Claus, is a Baptist, and a long-time friend of Black.
"'Virginia is for lovers', and this (a conceived
child) is the natural
follow-up. In God’s plan, there are no unwanted
children," said another supporter. "We are shocked and surprised that the
license plate initiative is so controversial."
Women who have had an abortion, said Gerri Laird, "as the years pass, realize that they’re the mother of a dead child." She said that in her work, she’s heard from these women that if they had seen one pro-life symbol during their pregnancy, such as a bumper sticker, they might have chosen life for their child. Laird, director of the diocesan Family Life Office’s Project Rachel, spoke at the conference with her husband, Bob, assistant director of the diocesan office.
"They need someone to accept them right where they are and walk along with them," said Nadine Balenger, executive director of the Rappahanock Pregnancy Help Center, of the women to whom she ministers, who are not prepared for pregnancy. The center, open for a year, helps an average of one new client each day, she said.
"I have seven living children," said a woman
giving testimony at the
conference, who said she has had an abortion.
"We need to give courage and encourage."
Supporters of HB 1464 are asked to inform their pro-life groups, have petition drives gathering signatures; organize a call-in and letter writing campaign directed at members of the House and Senate Transportation Committees, who will initially consider the bill and ask their own senators and delegates to co-sponsor it. ALL will provide post cards in bulk to organizations for this purpose.
In response to a question about whether the license plate initiative is "an extension of the Hugh Finn case," Delegate Black responded, "Anytime we support the value of human life, we raise up our civilization, and it comes a greater civilization."
Elected representatives may be
contacted by obtaining information from the Virginia state web site at:
http://legis.state.va.us/vaonline/v.htm
by phone through the constituent
viewpoint line during the legislative session at 1/800/889-0229 from 7
a.m. to 7 p.m. and via mail: House of Delegates, P.O. Box 406, Richmond,
Va. 23218 and Senate of Virginia, P.O. Box 396, Richmond, Va. 23218.
Petitions are to be returned
to ALL, P.O. Box 1350, Stafford, Va. 22555, phone 703/690 2510 or 540/659-2586.
Delegate Black can be contacted at 703/406-2951 or 804/698-1032, or web
site:
http://www.delegateblack.com
This article was published in the Arlington
Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol 24, No 1;
dated Jan. 7, 1999.
E-mail:
letters@catholicherald.com
Fax: 703/524-2782;
Editorial: 703/841-2590;
Advertising: 703/841-2594;
Circulation: 703/841-2565
A note from the Web Master:
It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion. Let us not forget that ordinary everyday Abortion is also murder. We must understand that murder is murder no matter the method. Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not justify the other methods. We should be horrified and sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method. The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill." A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul. Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs. Please contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone, to let them know how horrified you are that Abortions are legal and to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible. (It has become apparent that they do not respond to email therefore you will have more of an impact by writing or telephoning.)
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