Virginia Society for Human Life PO Box 6925 Richmond, VA 23230 Tel: (804) 358-8745 Fax: (804) 358-8789
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2002		CONTACT: Brenda Fastabend (434) 384-5341

Today, the Virginia General Assembly failed to override Governor Warner's veto of the "medically-induced infanticide" bill, introduced by Del. Robert Marshall (R-Prince William).

"Governor Warner's veto sent a message to Virginians that this governor hasn't met an abortion he doesn't like," stated Brenda Fastabend, President of the Virginia Society for Human Life. "Governor Warner wants so many exceptions that there would be no ban."

According to The Washington Times (April 5, 2002), at the time of the veto, Governor Warner issued a statement saying, "I am opposed to all post-viability abortions, except to protect the mother's life or her health…." According to Doe v. Bolton, the companion U.S. Supreme Court ruling to Roe v. Wade, "health" is defined as "all factors" that affect the woman, including "physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age."

"This veto shows just how extreme the Governor's position on abortion really is," Mrs. Fastabend stated. "Governor Warner is out of touch with Virginians on the issue of abortion."

In a partial-birth abortion, a living baby is pulled feet first from her mother's womb until all but the head is exposed. The doctor then punctures the base of the baby's skull with a pair of scissors or other sharp instrument, inserts a suction tube, and removes the baby's brains before completing the delivery of the now-dead baby.

Each year, partial-birth abortions are performed on 3,000 to 5,000 babies in the 5^th or 6^th month of pregnancy, sometimes even later. They are usually performed on perfectly healthy babies of perfectly healthy mothers. The American Medical Association says partial-birth abortions are "not good medicine."

Information and documentation on partial-birth abortions can be found at the National Right to Life website, www.nrlc.org.

The Virginia Society for Human Life was founded in 1967 and is the Virginia affiliate of National Right to Life Committee, the nation's largest pro-life organization.