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COLUMBUS, Ohio, January 4, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) — The governor of Ohio has signed a bill into law which requires women who undergo surgical abortions to either bury or cremate the remains of their children.
Known as “The Unborn Child Dignity Act,” the measure was passed in the Ohio House on December 3 and signed by Republican Governor Mike DeWine on December 30. The new law states that a pregnant woman who kills her child through abortion “is responsible for the costs related to the final disposition of the fetal remains at the chosen location.”
Those who ignore the new law — whether the mother of the child or the abortion provider — could face a first degree misdemeanor charge which carries a $1,000 fine and/or a six month jail sentence.
“Although we work for a day when no unborn child in Ohio is killed by abortion, we recognize that, at the very least, accounting for those precious bodies, and for their humane disposition is necessary,” Molly Smith of The Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, told Cincinnati.com.
Lauren Blauvelt-Copelin, vice president of government affairs and public advocacy at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio claimed the new law is “unconstitutional and medically unnecessary.”
“It also adds yet another barrier for patients who are trying to access abortion services — which is the legislature’s real goal,” Blauvelt-Copelin told Cincinnati.com.
Laurel Powell, also speaking on behalf of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, dismissed the bill as nothing more than a roadblock for women seeking abortions.
“This is honestly just a familiar ploy by these lawmakers who use the chaos of the end of year session to try and pass these unpopular bills,” Powell told Cleveland’s WEWS-TV.
“This is not something that is intended to promote patient safety or access to care,” continued the Planned Parenthood advocate. “Really, it’s just another attack.”
States are blocking pro-lifers from sharing the simple message “Choose Life” on their vehicles!
Please SIGN this joint petition between LifeSite and The Children First Foundation to make "Choose Life" license plates available in every state! Tell governors and state officials to allow this pro-life freedom of speech.
Advertising industry statistics show that, for the typical vehicle, a “Choose Life” plate and its simple, powerful message will be seen by other drivers 30,000 to 80,000 times a year.
And, across the U.S., “Choose Life” vehicle license plates (or tags) have raised more than $28 million for pro-life pregnancy centers, maternity homes, safe havens, and adoption centers, varying with each state.
The potential for expanding the “Choose Life” license plate program to new states and new members is incredible – but only if citizens are allowed to have the plates!
It is appalling that seventeen U.S. states do not allow their citizens the right to put “Choose Life” license plates on their vehicles.
The plates have been called pro-life “scare tactics” by Planned Parenthood and unlawful or hateful “private speech” by pro-abortion lawyers. The “Choose Life” message, however, is one of pure love that scares nobody except those who profit from death.
It is unacceptable that we are blocked from our God-given and Constitutional right to spread the message of love and life for vulnerable unborn and newborn children.
Your signature on this petition – no matter where you live – will help to get the “Choose Life” license plate program in states where it is not yet permitted!
Please SIGN and SHARE this petition to make a real difference in persuading these state governments and Departments of Motor Vehicles to “Choose Life.”
Consider, for example, our experience in New York, where Governor Andrew Cuomo is a nationally-recognized advocate of abortion and has been a relentless opponent of the pro-life movement.
Cuomo has blocked the approval of “Choose Life” license plates in NY, despite widespread support for these truly positive messages of love and life. A headline in the New York Post declared, “The DMV Acts Like We Live in Pyongyang.”
And, in nearby New Jersey and Connecticut, similar hurdles were faced.
But we took the fight to the government officials and even to federal court. And, with the help of petitions, we were able to get “Choose Life” license plates on the road in both states.
It is high time for us to convert EVERY state in America to choose life.
Your signature on this petition - no matter where you live - will help make that happen by placing “Choose Life” license plates on tens of thousands more cars.
For love, for life, for the babies, please SIGN and SHARE our worldwide petition to tell state officials and politicians to stop blocking approval of the “Choose Life” license plate!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please click on this link to read many past LifeSite articles on "Choose Life" license plates: https://www.lifesitenews.com/tags/tag/choose+life+plates
Despite the claims by Planned Parenthood, Ohio’s pro-life community has welcomed the new law as an important step in respecting and honoring the humanity of unborn children.
“Although we work for a day when no unborn child in Ohio is killed by abortion, we recognize that, at the very least, accounting for those precious bodies, and for their humane disposition is necessary,” Molly Smith of The Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio, told Cincinnati.com.
Mark Harrington, president of Ohio-based pro-life organization Created Equal, said, “While both pro-life and pro-abortion groups are focused on state abortion bans, these humane disposal bills are getting signed into law and in some ways pose a bigger threat than these bans do because they are now considered constitutional.”
“Because abortionists are the dregs of medicine they will be unable to comply with these new regulations,” he added.
“The Unborn Child Dignity Act will promote the dignity of the unborn through proper burial by requiring the Ohio Department of Health to establish rules for the proper disposal of products of conception and define ‘humane disposal’ as earthly burial or cremation,” declared a statement issued by Ohio Right to Life.