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Minnesota Students
Become Citizen Lobbyists at Capitol MCCL's Student Day program introduces young people to the legislative process By Bill Poehler
More than 200
junior high and high school students from across
Minnesota came together in St. Paul on March 15 to
participate in Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life's
ninth annual MCCL Student Day at the Capitol. Students
learned about right-to-life issues and lobbied their own
state legislators to prohibit abortions of unborn babies
who can feel pain. "Young people today are passionate about justice and protection for unborn children," says MCCL Events Coordinator Jennifer Kistler. "Today's teenagers are enthusiastic about transforming their culture so that every unborn child will be safe in the womb." Presentations by MCCL staff gave students the facts about abortion, current pro-life legislation, the legislative process and how to lobby elected officials. Attendees learned that unborn babies can feel pain at 20 weeks from conception and suffer severely during an abortion.
Lawmakers lobbied MCCL Student Day participants were able to tour the Capitol and meet face to face with their legislators, lobbying them to support the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The legislation, currently being considered in both the Minnesota Senate and House, would prohibit abortions after the point in pregnancy at which an unborn child can feel pain, which medical evidence demonstrates is (conservatively) 20 weeks from conception. They also met as a group with President of the Senate Michelle Fischbach, R-Paynesville, House Majority Leader Matt Dean, R-Dellwood, and Rep. Patti Fritz, D-Faribault, in the ornate Minnesota House chamber.
Dean told the students, "There are a lot of important issues we deal with here, but the most important are protecting unborn babies, the disabled and the elderly." Fritz, a nurse, thanked the students for their "courage in being here and fighting to protect lives." Fischbach explained to students how she expects the pain-capable bill to move through the committee process to floor votes in the Senate and House. The young people also enjoyed question-and-answer sessions with Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, R-Buffalo; Sen. Gretchen Hoffman, R-Vergas, chief Senate author of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act; Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, chief House author of the pain-capable bill; Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, chief House author of the taxpayer funded abortion ban; Sen. Claire Robling, R-Jordan; and Sen. LeRoy Stumpf, DFL-Plummer. 'The best experience' Student Day was "definitely the best educational experience we have ever been a part of," a student named Teresa remarked afterward. "I will tell my friends to come next year!" "It was a brilliant opportunity to learn more about pro-life issues and politics, and to vocalize our pro-life concerns," wrote Morgan D. "I felt like I was doing something to help others," another student wrote. Equipping tomorrow's leaders Kistler adds, "Every year, MCCL Student Day at the Capitol is a wonderful day of pro-life education and involvement. It is one of the most important ways in which MCCL reaches out to equip young people to be tomorrow's pro-life leaders." |
