About 200 anti-abortion advocates from North Texas were expected to join hundreds of others at a rally in Austin today to boost support for a bill that would require mothers to view ultra-sound images of their unborn fetuses before receiving abortions.
Kyleen Wright of Mansfield, president of the Texans for Life Coaltion, said hundreds are expected for the 10 a.m. rally , which was moved from an indoor auditorium to the south steps of the State Capitol because of the predicted turnout. Scheduled speakers included Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and other top Republicans.
Pro-life activists, instructed to wear red to identify themselves, planned to make the rounds of House and Senate offices to rally support for the legislaton, sponsored by Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, and Frank Corte Jr., R-San Antonio. Lawmakers and their staffs were also invited to a reception in the House members lounge to watch ultra-sound demonstrations.
The day's activities, said Wright, are aimed at sending "a loud message to lawmakers that there's a lot of support for this bill." She called the ultra-sound bill "a modest common-sense measure" to help give mothers as much information as possible "before they make a decision that can't be reversed."
-- Dave Montgomery
Typical Startlegram story. Cover what the Rethuglicans so, act like there's no opposition to this bill. I mean, couldn't you find just ONE lawmaker who plans to vote against it and let them explain why.
Try asking why states, particularly those in the old Confederacy and the knuckle-dragging regions of the Mid-West continue to try to block legal abortion services for women, even though the US Supreme Court has declared for more than 30 years that women have the right to control their own bodies.
No one forces anyone to have an abortion, but our fanatical Texas Tabliban keeps at it, screeching, threatening and swinging their crossses at anyone who opposes them.
Posted by: David Giddens | February 24, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Why is there such hate for people who simply value human life and want to give these children the same right to live as we were given? This issue goes much deeper than religion or politics. If we as a society devalue the most innocent and vulnerable of human beings, then who is next? I have a baby and, although I wanted to get pregnant, I also felt the fear and uncertainty of bringing a child into the world....not to mention the sometimes not-so-fun experiences that come along with pregnancy. I can only imagine the emotions women go through in an unplanned pregnancy. But I have seen the research proving that abortions cause emotional trauma, an increased chance of suicide, a risk of breast cancer, infertility, and a number of other negative effects. Research also shows that 9 out of 10 women who view a sonogram of their baby choose to continue the pregnancy. Those are 9 more babies who are given the gift of life! There is nothing more sacred or precious.
Posted by: Sara Clark | February 24, 2009 at 12:37 PM