This week in Virginia, we witnessed two momentous pro-life victories.


The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that will ban partial-birth abortion (SB 1205 and HB 1541) and require parental consent for minors seeking abortions (SB 1124 and HB 1402) in the commonwealth.


Pro-life leaders in the state have reported that this marks the first time that two consequential pro-life bills have passed in Virginia during the same year. Most importantly, the House and Senate rebuffed the efforts of Gov. Mark Warner, an abortion-rights supporter, to weaken the partial-birth amendment with an ill-defined "health exception."


In the House of Delegates, 77 of 100 members voted in favor of the partial-birth abortion ban, while 70 members supported the parental-consent legislation. In the Senate, 28 of 40 members supported each bill.


Waymond Bishop, executive director of the Richmond-based Family Foundation (www.familyfoundation.org), said, "These victories are more evidence that the tide of public opinion has turned in the abortion debate. Both Democrat and Republican, liberal and conservative, supported these bills representing the diversity of Virginia. This shows what can be accomplished when principle takes the place of politics."


Sen. Steve Newman (Lynchburg), a member of my Thomas Road Baptist Church and a Lynchburg Christian Academy graduate, and Delegate Bob Marshall (Manassas) sponsored the partial-birth abortion legislation. It always does my heart good to see one of our graduates impacting the culture in such positive ways. I believe Steve is a rising star within the state GOP.


The Family Foundation - which promotes the strategy that all human life is sacred, from fertilization through natural death - noted that these votes were accomplished largely because state pro-life supporters had energetically contacted legislators, urging them to support the partial-birth ban and parental consent legislation.


Mr. Bishop said, "There is no doubt that those E-mails, phone calls and letters had a significant impact on the votes. Legislators have indicated that they don't remember a time when constituents were more involved. If there is one lesson to be learned from these victories it is this: your voice was heard!"


This is an important lesson for pro-lifers across the nation. Lawmakers listen when they hear from their constituents, especially when they hear from them en masse. When politicians receive concerted phone calls and E-mails from regional voters, they know that they risk their political futures if they buck the consensus.


Imagine the momentum we could see in our nation if pro-life supporters in every state were committed to protecting life through personal activism. We could literally change the course of this nation in terms of protecting the unborn. Forty-two million aborted American babies since 1972 should be motivation enough to incite us to action.


Here in Virginia, we have more work to accomplish. We will be working with groups like the Family Foundation to protect the right of conscience for health care workers who have a moral objection to abortion and to ensure that truthful information regarding abortion is available to all women. We will also be working with these groups to eliminate taxpayer-funded abortion and taxpayer funding of abortion promoters.


I will be doing my part to ensure that we continue to work to protect the unborn in Virginia and nationwide. I urge readers to join in this rising effort to defend the most innocent and vulnerable forms of life. It is through our efforts that the mass slaughter of defenseless lives will one day be halted.



SUPPORT THE TROOPS RALLY


On Saturday, April 12, at 2:00 p.m., Liberty University will host a "Support Our Troops" rally in the 10,000-seat Vines Center. "Falwell Confidential" readers within driving distance of the campus are invited to join us for this special event at which I will be speaking. Additionally, the rally will have some extraordinary speakers, including Rep. Bob Goodlatte, and a terrific God & Country music celebration. I guarantee that your hearts will be blessed and your spirits will soar as we honor our nation and our troops who are fighting to liberate Iraq. Click this link for more information on this special event: http://www.liberty.edu/InformationServices/CustomerService/DISC/index.cfm?PID=4557 

Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell.com

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