Nebraska Right to Life Hosts Legislative Day
in Support of Landmark Abortion Pain Prevention Act

Pro-life Nebraskans turned out in force on February 25th to attend a legislative day hosted by Nebraska Right to Life at the state capitol in Lincoln. On everyone’s mind—and their jackets—was the message “Abortion Hurts! Support LB 1103.”

LB 1103, the “Abortion Pain Prevention Act,” is legislation sponsored by Nebraska State Senator and Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood, a bill which would prohibit abortions other than in cases of a medical emergency after the unborn child is capable of feeling pain. The bill defines this as occurring at twenty weeks, which is the medical consensus.

In addition to the lives saved outright from the twenty week ban, LB 1103 could mark an unprecedented inroad against the abortion on demand precedent set by the United States Supreme Court. Currently, limits on directly regulating abortion are only permissible after the point of viability. The Abortion Pain Prevention Act would go a step further and argue that states have a legitimate interest in the life of the unborn child at twenty weeks based on their capability to feel pain.

If passed, the Nebraska bill could become a roadmap for similar legislation in other states, and potentially ignite a new nationwide debate on abortion as dramatic as Partial Birth Abortion was in the 1990’s.

Recognition of the pain unborn babies feel during an abortion “brings the baby back into the debate;” and focuses attention on the humanity of the unborn child in the womb.

All of this is why Nebraska Right to Life’s pro-life legislative day was so important. Pro-life Nebraskan’s turned out to show their enthusiasm for LB 1103, receive information on the legislation and fetal pain, and how to contact their State Senator in support of the bill. Nebraska Right to Life Executive Director Julie Schmit-Albin spoke to the assembly about the importance of LB 1103, as did Speaker Flood.

This was the next step in an ongoing grassroots effort organized by Nebraska Right to Life and local chapters to build support for LB 1103. Five thousand Nebraskan’s turned out on a cold morning in Lincoln at the end of January for the annual Walk for Life and rally, and to sign petitions in favor of the Abortion Pain Prevention Act.

Since then, petition sheets have been pouring into the Nebraska Right to Life Office. Julie Schmit-Albin says it’s been difficult to keep up with the total number of signatures collected so far.

Pro-lifers could be seen all over the capitol building on Thursday for the Legislative Day, easily identified by their cheerful demeanor and “Abortion Hurts!” stickers. Many stood around to listen in on the press conference hosted by Nebraska Right to Life before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on LB 1103. The hearing room was packed to capacity, with the majority in attendance present to show their support for the bill. Pro-lifers could even be seen outside the capitol during lunch hour holding up a large pro-life banner (presumably, they didn’t mind the cold).

That pro-lifers took time off from work (or, for a number of high school students, classes) on a Thursday to come learn about pro-life lobbying and the political process, and to support such a key piece of legislation, is a lesson that media observers or political staffers and officials are unlikely to forget.