Published on September 12, 2024, 12:51 am

The subject of late-term abortions has garnered considerable attention, particularly in political discussions. Democratic lawmakers have repeatedly supported laws that would permit abortion providers to terminate the lives of infants who survive abortions, while opposing legislation which aims at protecting such infants.

This fact was highlighted by former President Donald Trump during a debate, resulting in noticeable discomfort from Vice President Kamala Harris and rebukes from debate moderator Linsey Davis.

“There isn’t a single state in this country where it is legal to kill a child after its birth,” asserted Davis, contradicting Trump’s claim that some Democrats condone infanticide.

This discourse was sparked by comments made by Democrat Ralph Northam, former Virginia Governor, regarding Democrat Virginia Representative Kathy Tran’s House Bill 2491.

Northam stated: “If a mother is in labor…the infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and family want before a discussion between doctors and mother ensues.” However, he did not offer details on the outcome following such discussions.

During the same discussion, he expressed his opinion saying “we want the government to stay out of these decisions,” emphasizing his belief that some aspects were exaggerated out of proportion.

Tran’s proposed bill — which didn’t become a law — had intended to remove “all procedures and processes” related to securing informed written consent for an abortion from women. She admitted that her bill could potentially allow for termination of unborn babies right up until the third trimester without any specific limitations.

Indeed, when Republican delegate Todd Gilbert asked whether her proposed bill would allow for an abortion even when it’s clear the woman is about to give birth (in medical terms – dilating), Tran confirmed affirmatively.

However, more recently she backtracked in the face of widespread criticism making clear her bill didn’t aim to permit infanticide. In Virginia where killing an infant is illegal, she stated: “I should have asserted ‘clearly, no, because any child that is born alive would remain so’”.

A recent case in point to illustrate opposition to protecting infants born as a result of unsuccessful abortions was the almost unanimous vote by House Democrats against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act passed in January 2023. The aforementioned legislation aimed for the healthcare provider performing the abortion to use “the same degree of professional skill and care necessary to preserve the life and health of the child.” Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas was the lone Democrat voting in favor.

In response to Trump’s comments during Tuesday’s debate on Democratic extremism regarding abortion practices, Harris indicated her disagreement without speaking. This takes us back to when Harris had herself voted against the Born Alive Infant Survivors Protection Act in 2020.

Technically speaking, under federal law, babies born alive are protected under the provisions of the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2002. However, noteworthy is that this federal legislation excludes any punitive measures for doctors who fail to provide appropriate care for babies who survive abortions.

This status quo may change given current trends; with only eight states being transparent with their reports concerning whether infants born live after failed abortions were given care post-birth: Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Texas.

Protections seem insufficient when considering that nine states and Washington D.C allow terminations at any time and for any reason without provisionary directives for event of survival after an abortion process has been initiated.

These facts further underscore not just a heated topic within politics but also a topic deeply ingrained into both public opinion and healthcare policy discussion from a Christian worldview right through to discussions held during breaking news broadcasts on trusted real news channels.