FRC Urges Passage of Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

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Jun 04, 2013, 05:21 ET

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Research Council (FRC) praised the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice for approving earlier today the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 1797). U.S. Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona's Eighth District expanded the D.C. Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act to protect all unborn pain-capable babies nationwide.

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Pain capability refers to an unborn child's capacity for feeling physical pain after a certain stage of pre-natal development. Evidence shows that unborn children are capable of feeling pain by at least 20 weeks gestation.

Of the vote FRC President Tony Perkins said:

"The recent murder trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell and his horrific practice of late-term abortion shows that the United States needs a law to protect babies that can feel pain. At 20 weeks a developing baby can experience pain like any fully grown human being. Across the country, abortion clinics – though maybe not as filthy as Kermit Gosnell's – still cruelly abort babies who are fully capable of feeling their painful and violent deaths.

"To know what is right and not do it is wrong. Doctors and scientists recognize that unborn babies can feel pain at 20 weeks of age. To allow such babies to continue to be aborted is wrong.

"While Americans are divided on abortion, we are united on the rights of the pain-capable unborn. Gallup has found that 64 percent of Americans support protecting babies in the second trimester. We call on Congress to respect the views of their constituents and pass the national Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."

SOURCE Family Research Council