ARTICLES
December 1997 ARTICLES
LETTERS
Contents © 1997
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
'These Despicable Abortionists'
A Sacramento pro-life lobbyist cited to the Mission governor Pete Wilson's pro-abortion stance as a factor in California's pusillanimous regulation of the state's abortion industry. But the lobbyist reserved his harshest criticism for state attorney general Dan Lungren, who in the past has identified himself as Catholic and pro-life. The consensus, the lobbyist said, is that Lungren's political ambitions (as a likely gubernatorial candidate) have caused him to compromise his beliefs. As evidence the lobbyist points to:
* Lungren's failure to take steps to improve the medical board's handling of abortion-related cases.
* His confirmation of Wilson's pro-abortion political appointees to the state Supreme Court.
* His request that the new court reconsider the parental consent law (which resulted in September in its overturn).
* His reported willingness to take "a second look" at the Republican pro-life platform plank and not use abortion as a "litmus test."
In an October 23 press release, state senator Ray Haynes (R- Riverside) announced he would introduce a bill in 1998 that would require abortion clinics to make more emergency medical equipment and more medical personnel available to patients.
"The abortion industry has gone unregulated for 25 years, arrogantly claiming immunity to any legislative attempt to provide minimum standards of care for abortions," said Haynes. "This legislation will draw a line in the sand for legislators who claim they support young defenseless women in crisis pregnancies." He continued, "I want to see who my colleagues will protect, these despicable abortionists or the young women they butcher for profit."
One political activist, familiar with the workings of the California's abortion industry, opined that Lungren should be positively encouraged to promote full enforcement of the state Health and Safety Code to improve his chances of becoming the state's next governor.
Concerned citizens can contact: Dan Lungren, State Attorney General, 1300 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 324-5437, fax (916) 324-6734.
For a state-by-state listing of women who have died as a result of legal abortion, see Kevin Sherlock's 1996 book, Victims of Choice.