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METAIRIE, Louisiana, May 3, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Controversial Louisiana state Representative John LaBruzzo filed legislation recently that would ban all abortions in the state.

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House Bill 587 redefines feticide as the “killing of an unborn child by the act, procurement, or culpable omission of a person… including the mother of the unborn child.” 

Under the bill, doctors and even the mother of the child could face prison sentences for between 5 and 10 years for their involvement in an abortion procedure, although LaBruzzo has said the inclusion of the mother was an error that will be corrected.

He maintains his intention with the bill is to challenge Roe vs. Wade.

“I think the main difference between 1973 and now is that technology that we have. We can peer into the uterus and see an image that even my 4-year-old would say, you know, that’s a baby,” LaBruzzo said.

The Louisiana representative says he does not believe the current proposal is controversial.  “When it comes to abortion and guns, even the Democrats are on the same page with the Republicans,” he said.

LaBruzzo, however, has taken positions in the past that have put him firmly on the opposite side of the fence of the pro-life movement. He is perhaps best known for his inflammatory 2008 proposal to deal with the welfare problem in New Orleans.  The representative suggested offering poor women $1000 to be sterilized, a suggestion that former New Orleans Archbishop Alfred Hughes condemned as “blatantly anti-life” and eugenic in nature.

House Bill 587 is scheduled for review during the current session.  Should the bill pass, it is expected to be challenge in court.