For further information:
Jessica Rodgers, 202-626-8833 or mediarelations@nrlc.org

NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE CRITICIZES ARKANSAS GOVERNOR FOR
VETO OF UNBORN PAIN BILL

WASHINGTON – Today, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe vetoed legislation that would protect unborn children, capable of feeling pain, from being killed by abortion. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act passed the state’s house of representatives on February 4, (75-20), and the state senate on February 18, (25-7).

“Most people oppose the killing of unborn children who are capable of feeling pain. A significant number of studies have proven that unborn babies feel pain. Unfortunately, with this veto, it is still legal in the state of Arkansas to kill these pain-capable unborn children,” said Mary Spaulding Balch, J.D., director of state legislation for National Right to Life. “We are confident that the state legislature will agree with the majority of people who want to protect these unborn children from abortion and will vote to override the governor's veto.” ??

The model Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, drafted by the National Right to Life Committee’s state legislation department, protects the lives of unborn children at the point that they are capable of feeling pain except when the mother "has a condition which so complicates her medical condition as to necessitate the abortion of her pregnancy to avert death or to avert serious risk of substantial or irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function or...it is necessary to preserve the life of an unborn child." Further documentation and links to the scientific studies can be found at: www.doctorsonfetalpain.com.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a legislative priority of the National Right to Life Committee, has been enacted in seven states.

“I am certainly disappointed in Governor Beebe’s decision to veto this life-saving, life-affirming bill,” said Representative Andy Mayberry (R-Hensley), the lead sponsor of the bill. “The next stage of the legislative process gives the General Assembly the opportunity to override the Governor’s veto, and that’s how we plan to proceed.”

Founded in 1968, National Right to Life, the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates and more than 3,000 local chapters, is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. Recognized as the flagship of the pro-life movement, NRLC works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide and euthanasia.