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NRL News
High
School Students Learn How More than 100 Minnesota young people lobbied their lawmakers to ban cruel saline abortions at the 2008 MCCL Student Day at the state capitol in St. Paul. Their educational experience also included an exclusive meeting with pro-life Gov. Tim Pawlenty and presentations from MCCL’s lobbyists. “MCCL Student Day at the Capitol offers young people a uniquely pro-life learning and lobbying experience,” said Scott Fischbach, MCCL executive director. “Student Day is one of our most effective programs for equipping students to become tomorrow’s pro-life leaders.” Pawlenty Encourages Kids Pawlenty said he looks forward to speaking with young people every year at MCCL Student Day. He explained that every principle—including every pro-life principle—is one generation away from extinction. Pawlenty challenged students to become lifelong pro-life activists. “Winning over the hearts and minds of your friends and neighbors is important,” Pawlenty said. “That translates into public support for pro-life measures, which then translates into legislative and congressional support.” Saline Abortion Ban Dozens of state legislators on both sides of the abortion issue heard students from their districts strongly urge them to protect unborn babies from the suffering and violence of saline abortions. High school students explained the torturous procedure in which an unborn child is poisoned and burned to death in the womb when a strong hypertonic saline (salt) solution is used to replace the nourishing amniotic fluid. They also told their elected officials that unborn children can feel pain at the stage of development in which saline abortions are performed, and that the procedure poses many dangers to women’s lives and health. In March, MCCL introduced a bill to ban saline abortions in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, more than 50 instillation abortions—which include saline abortions—have been performed in the state in the past five years. Saline abortion has been illegal for decades in other countries, including Sweden, Japan, and Russia. Lobbying 101 MCCL Student Day attendees learned the facts of saline abortions in morning educational sessions. MCCL’s three lobbyists offered interactive presentations on current life issues and how to effectively lobby legislators to support pro-life initiatives. Young people learned how lawmakers avoid making any commitment to voting for a bill, for example, while still appearing to be supportive. They discovered that statements such as, “I’m pro-life, but …” and “I don’t like the idea of saline abortions” were not commitments to vote for the ban. Even so, some students were able to get several legislators to promise to vote for the saline abortion ban. These young people were excited to make a difference on behalf of innocent, defenseless unborn children. “Our legislator was surprised to hear that this was happening all over the state,” said Lauren Lilliencrantz of her meeting with her representative. “We had not even gotten to ask her before she told us she would support the bill!” Students were urged to contact these officials again when they got home via e-mail, letters, or phone calls. Teaching young people how to be effective as citizen lobbyists is one of the many benefits of the annual Student Day at the Capitol. “Empowering young people today is an investment in our future,” Fischbach concluded. “They are the ones who will help us restore a culture of life in America.” |