Georgia Baptist Mission Board issues support for fetal heartbeat bill

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ATLANTA — The Living Infants Fairness & Equality (LIFE) Act, which recognizes life as beginning at conception and prohibits abortion once a fetal heartbeat has been determined, will receive support from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, Public Affairs representative Mike Griffin stated Feb. 25.

The bill, introduced by Representative Ed Setzler (R-Acworth), calls for the prohibition of abortion from the point of a child “having a detectable human heartbeat,” typically at six weeks of gestational age.

The entire statement reads:

“The Georgia Baptist Mission Board wholeheartedly supports and commends Georgia State Representative Ed Setzler for his introducing today (2/25/19) the “Living Infants Fairness & Equality Act” (LIFE Act). This legislation recognizes the humanity of children beginning at conception and prohibits abortion from the point of a child having a detectable human heartbeat at approximately 6 weeks gestational age. This bill reconciles the humanity of the child with existing court precedents in recognizing what science tells us: the point of fetal viability is the presence of a detectable heartbeat, after which the state has a compelling interest to protect human life.”

“Please join us in praying for and supporting this effort to protect innocent life in our state. Contact your state House and Senate representative today and ask them to promote and vote for this legislation.”

Kemp pledged support during campaign

During his recent election campaign Governor Brian Kemp pledged his support for a “’heartbeat bill’ that outlaws abortion after six weeks.”

The introduction of the bill comes on the same day the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act was defeated in Washington. The bill, which would punish doctors for failing to provide medical care to a child who survived an abortion, failed to get the necessary 60 votes to proceed. All but three Democrats voted against the bill, which had 53 in favor but 44 opposed.

According to the Washington Post, opponents argued that the bill “represented an unjustified attack on abortion rights.”

The bills come just a few weeks after Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) thrust the issue of infanticide into the media spotlight, suggesting support for it in a radio interview.

abortion, Brian Kemp, pro-life