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Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.

-Dr. Martin Luther King

For pro-lifers "restraining the heartless" through the power of law means enacting statutes that save the lives of unborn children; protect those threatened by infanticide, euthanasia and denial of lifesaving treatment; and slowly but surely subvert the "culture of death" that is still oppressing our country. That the subversion of the "culture of death" is occurring "slowly" is of course very frustrating, but we are confident that it is occurring "surely" because the abortion culture is fatally flawed.

The fatal flaw of the abortion culture, the "culture of death," is that it must deny truth and reality. In contrast, a culture that respects and protects life is based on truth and reality. It is the pro-abortionists' misfortune that truth and reality are governed by eternal laws-and not by press releases and policy statements from Planned Parenthood.

By proposing, discussing, and passing a pro-life law we serve the truth. The right-to-life cause greatly profits if we manage the discussion so that it lays bare the truth. (And "managing the discussion" does not mean sowing discord among the ranks of pro-lifers.) The truth is our best friend-and the worst enemy of the abortion culture. Whenever we succeed in inducing the public to focus on the truth we significantly advance the right-to-life cause.

Beyond "restraining the heartless," there are two important advantages to pursuing the public policy strategy. First, introducing pro-life laws makes it much easier to get a fruitful public discussion of abortion started. (We all have long-standing and painful memories of having been ignored by the pro-abortion media whenever we wanted to enlighten the public about the horrors of abortion.) Nothing makes the pro-abortion lobby and their friends in the media more nervous than the realistic threat of a pro-life law that would undermine the so-called "right" to abortion-on-demand in even the slightest way. Under these circumstances they can't ignore us; they must counterattack. And when they do, they can't help but lie because they fear telling the truth. And if we plan our legal strategy carefully, focus the ensuing public discussion the right way and get the truth out, we nearly always advance the right-to-life cause. (Obviously, we can't be amateurish here. That's why NRLC carefully researches and analyzes a proposed federal legislative initiative-taking into account the legislative environment at the time-before urging introduction or lending support. NRLC seeks to work closely with the state affiliates to accomplish the same thing at the state level.)

The second advantage is, of course, that the law not only restrains but also teaches. Beyond regulating behavior, the law actually does "legislate" and influence personal morality. Even the vigorous discussion that precedes the enactment of a just law-especially a pro-life law-informs the mind and prepares the heart. And every small step that weakens the pro-abortion culture and enlarges the respect for life brings us closer to our ultimate goal, the full legal protection of human life.

The pro-abortion lobby understands, of course, what's going on here. They know that this strategy aims right at their weakest spot: the complete mismatch between their agenda and the truth. And since they won't tell the truth, they must lie and deny. (If you are Vice President Al Gore, you even lie about having-years ago-supported pro-life legislation; in spite of the clear record, you "deny, deny, deny" as one of his aides put it during Gore's 1992 run for the presidency. And pro-lifers "won't forget, won't forget, won't forget" Al Gore's flip-flop.)

With this in mind, let's consider some of our legislative initiatives. (As always, check the Action Boxes in NRL News to make your communication with Congress as effective as possible.)

Child Custody Protection Act (HR 1218). The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 270-159. The bill makes it a federal offense to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion if this circumvents a parental involvement law in the home state. It shouldn't surprise you that the Clinton-Gore White House opposes this bill. It has threatened to veto it unless amendments are adopted that would in effect deny-once again-parental rights by allowing various non-parents secretly to deliver the child into the hands of out-of-state abortionists. (The most cynical version yet of the misguided "it-takes-a-village" idea.) Let your senators know that you want them to vote for this bill. (See story on page 6 of this issue of NRL News.)

Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999 (HR 2260). The bill was recently introduced by Sen. Don Nickles (R-Ok.) and Reps. Henry Hyde (R-Il.) and Bart Stupak (D-Mi.). The bill (1) promotes appropriate pain management and palliative care as a positive alternative to euthanasia, and (2) prohibits the use of "controlled substances" (narcotics, etc.) by medical personnel to kill patients-even in states that have legalized assisted suicide or euthanasia. Urge your congressional representative to co-sponsor this bill. (See Action Alert, page 8.)

Unborn Victims of Violence Act (HR 2436). The bill imposes federal penalties (even life in prison) for the crime of killing unborn children during the commission of another federal crime. While most criminal acts of violence fall under the reach of state law, many are prosecuted under federal law. This bill would establish the federal law's recognition of the unborn child's status as a victim of criminal violence-aside from punishing the criminal. (See story on page one of this issue of NRL News.)

The pro-abortionists will, of course, do everything in their power to keep the unborn child a legally invisible non-entity.

It is our job not to let them get away with that outrage. It is our job to lay bare their morally and constitutionally bankrupt position. It is our job to bring the public one step closer to protecting the unborn child from all violence.

Go to the Action Box on the back cover!