California’s Assembly Bill 2223 passed in the Assembly Health Committee on a 11-3 vote this week, meaning infanticide is creeping closer to decriminalization.
The bill passed despite nearly 2000 people traveling to Sacramento to try and persuade legislators face-to-face to vote “no.” These dedicated citizens came from all over the state, as well as several other states, to participate in a Lobby Day event organized by the Capitol Resource Institute (CRI), Real Impact (RI), and the California Family Council (CFC). After receiving training from CRI President Karen England and Greg Burt with CFC, throngs of people headed to legislative offices to express opposition to AB 2223. Many reported having great conversations with legislative staff and legislators of either party, while others reported having to slip notes under office doors, because legislative staff refused to open their doors.
Then at 11 a.m., thousands gathered on the capitol steps for a press conference led by RI Director Gina Gleason and CFC President Jonathan Keller. Speakers included Pastor Jack Hibbs, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills and Founder of Real Impact; Pastor Greg Fairrington, Destiny Christian Church; Pastor Jim Franklin, Cornerstone Church; Pastor Brenda Wood, Word of Life Ministries International; Kevin McGary, President of Every Black Life Matters; Pastor Marc Little, Ex. Director, CURE America Action, and Theresa Brennan, CEO of Right to Life League of Southern California. (Watch full Press Conference)
Then at 4 p.m., the Assembly Health Committee held a hearing on AB 2223. One of the two witnesses speaking in opposition to AB 2223 was Pastor Jack Hibbs.
“We are talking about, in a sense, legalizing murder because nobody can investigate… no one can determine how this child died,” said Jack Hibbs, pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, in his testimony against AB 2223 in the Assembly Health Committee. “Those that are supporting this bill, they are supporting a bill that legalizes the termination of a born child and a child that is beyond the age of debate, is it life or is it a blob.”
Despite the overwhelming opposition, with hundreds of people lining up in the hallways to voice their opposition in the hearing, the bill passed with all the Democrats voting yes, and the Republicans voting no.
This bill actually codifies abortion through all nine months of pregnancy and decriminalizes killing newborns days or even weeks after birth.
AB 2223 would do this by protecting a mother from criminal charges for any “actions or omissions” related to her pregnancy. This includes “miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, or perinatal death due to a pregnancy-related cause.” Perinatal death pertains to babies seven days or older and a “pregnancy-related cause” is a meaningless, undefined term.
For example, two women in Kings County were charged with murder because they tested positive for methamphetamine after delivering stillbirths. Under AB 2223, these women could not be charged with anything and they can sue any law enforcement agency that investigates the death of these children.
Even former abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who killed three babies born alive after botched abortions, could not be charged under this legislation.
Several California-based legal experts all assert that the bill would legalize infanticide. Attorney Matthew McReynolds with the Pacific Justice Institute wrote that “California lawmakers have crossed a red line by seeking to legitimize the killing of hours-old and even week-old infants. This is not about expanding abortion rights; this is a degree of evil that the overwhelming majority of Americans, regardless of how they identify politically, cannot stomach.”
McReynolds is right. This bill is nothing less than evil. Under this law, respect for human dignity would diminish. The left continues to push the line for when life begins further and further. If infanticide is legalized, who is to say when murder at any stage of life is no longer acceptable? Arbitrary standards will not suffice. Either society protects all life from the moment of conception or it will descend down a slippery slope where anything goes.
“For years, pro-life advocates have argued there is no moral difference between ending a child’s life days before birth or days after birth. California’s pro-abortion legislators now seemingly agree,” said Jonathan Keller, President of California Family Council. “A political culture that justifies killing millions of children in the womb is now declaring open season on unwanted newborns. Every Californian must oppose this heinous bill.”
Further, radical bills such as this are beginning to surface because lawmakers and culture at large have removed God from the equation. It is because humans are sacred creations and reflections of God himself that they demand protection. Without God and natural law, there is no substantive reason to condemn murder.
This bill is one of several proposals aimed at turning California into a “sanctuary state” for abortion. California policymakers also advanced a radical bill that would allow nurses to perform abortions without a doctor’s supervision.
California is headed down a treacherous path when it comes to human rights and human dignity. Contact your legislators and urge them to defeat AB 2223 and protect life at every stage.
Contact the Legislators who have voted in favor of this bill so far:
VOTED YES ON AB 2223:
- Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D) (916) 319-2075
- Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D) (916) 319-2031
- Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D) (916) 319-2051
- Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D) (916) 319-2027
- Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D) (916) 319-2027
- Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D) (916) 319-2007
- Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D) (916) 319-2046
- Assemblymember Luz M. Rivas (D) (916) 319-2039
- Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez (D) (916) 319-2052
- Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D) (916) 319-2053
- Assemblymember Jim Wood (D) (916) 319-2002
Call and thank the legislators who didn’t vote for AB 2223.
VOTED NO ON AB 2223:
- Assemblymember Frank Bigelow (R) (916) 319-2005
- Assemblymember Heath Flora (R) (916) 319-2012
- Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R) (916) 319-2075
NOT VOTING ON AB 2223:
- Assemblymember Chad Mayes (Ind.) (916) 319-204
