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State
Representative Jim Buchy...
The
Heartbeat Bill
Putting
Ohio on the Front Lines of the ProLife Movement
January 17, 2012
A baby’s
heart begins to beat around 8 weeks into a pregnancy; this is where
many in the
prolife movement believe we can avert hundreds of abortions in Ohio
weekly. I
believe life starts at conception and I will take every possible step
to save
lives weather it is 1 or 1 million.
House Bill 125 the “Heartbeat Bill” is the
next step to ending
abortion. The
Heartbeat Bill is widely
supported in the prolife community and the General Assembly. I am a co-sponsor of HB
125 which is
sponsored by Representative Lynn Wachtmann of Napoleon.
The bill passed the Ohio House on June 28th;
54 to 44.
Throughout
west central Ohio, there are many questions about the Heartbeat Bill.
The bill
is surrounded by confusion because the most prominent prolife
organization, The
Ohio Right to Life has not been supportive of the bill.
As a result a new prolife organization has
formed and many Right to Life Chapters have left the Ohio Right to Life
and
joined Ohio ProLife Action, an organization which backs the Heartbeat
Bill.
The
Heartbeat Bill establishes regulations banning abortions when an unborn
child
has a heartbeat:
Requires a
person performing an abortion to determine if the unborn child has a
heartbeat.
If a
heartbeat is present an abortion cannot be performed.
The life of
the mother is an exception and an abortion could still be performed
with the
intention of saving the mother’s life.
Requires a
person performing an abortion when the heartbeat of an unborn child is
present
to have “informed consent.”
A notice to
the mother 24 hours prior to the abortion that informs the mother of
certain
specified information regarding the probability of bringing the child
to full
term.
*Source:
Legislative Service Commission, Bill Analysis Am. Sub. HB 125, As
Passed by the
House.
When I was
asked to co-sponsor the Heartbeat Bill I did not hesitate. In west central Ohio, we
are supporters of
the prolife movement and we will stand for any organization or effort
that
protects life. This belief has guided my decision to support the bill. It guided my efforts to
assist with the
passage of the Heartbeat Bill in the Ohio House of Representatives.
Currently,
the bill is in the Senate and is being examined by Senators in the
hearing
process. I believe
the time to pass the
Heartbeat Bill is now. We
cannot sit
back and watch more babies be killed in elective abortions. Experts say; if the
Heartbeat Bill is enforced
as law it will reduce abortions. In
fact, they estimate upwards of 90% of abortions will be avoided as a
result. When the
Heartbeat Bill is law,
it will make Ohio’s abortion restrictions the toughest in the country.
This
bill is the frontline of the
movement. In past
abortion battles, we
have went head to head with Planned Parenthood and NARAL and we
succeeded. I will
continue to work with my colleagues to
avoid anymore delay in the passage of this bill.
The opposition to this bill must stand down. We cannot afford to allow
anymore precious
and meaningful lives to be lost.
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