“If you show partiality, you are committing sin” (James 2:9).
We have said before that pro-life and pro-abortion bills often have much in common. Legislation presented this year provides more examples of this being the case.
Below are three bills concerning the preborn which have been introduced in the Unicameral this session, two by pro-life senators, and one by a pro-abortion senator.
Please note the following that each of the bills — whether pro-life or pro-abortion — have in common:
Text of the bills can be read at the bills’ status pages.
“Provide criminal and civil immunity for pregnancy outcomes”
Introducer: Sen. M. Cavanaugh (pro-abortion)
Supporters: ACLU of Nebraska
Hearing date: March 6, 2025
Committee assigned: Judiciary Committee
Summary:
No “outcome” from “decisions” made by a woman about her “own pregnancy,” including the “intentional termination” (murder) of her own preborn child, shall result in any criminal penalty for or civil action against the woman (Sections 1–3).
“Adopt the Chemical Abortion Safety Protocol Act”
Introducer: Sen. Holdcroft (pro-life)
Supporters: Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Family Alliance, Nebraska Right to Life
Hearing date: February 13, 2025
Committee assigned: Health and Human Services Committee
Summary:
“Change requirements for voluntary and informed consent and civil actions relating to abortion”
Introducer: Sen. Storer (pro-life)
Supporters: Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Family Alliance, Nebraska Right to Life
Hearing date: March 6, 2025
Committee assigned: Judiciary Committee
Summary:
Related: For additional information on this bill, read “LB669: One More Box to Check Before Committing Murder.”
Urge the senators not to support these bills. Remember what the bills all have in common. (See the top of this page.)
Instead, plead with the senators to sponsor a bill of equal protection, which would immediately abolish abortion as murder without exception or compromise. Refer them to the biblical counsel given to them by over 130 pastors in Nebraska recommending that they do this.
“Change penalties for motor vehicle homicide of an unborn child”
Introducer: Sen. Holdcroft (pro-life)
Supporters: Nebraska Catholic Conference, Nebraska Family Alliance
Hearing date: January 23, 2025
Committee assigned: Judiciary Committee
This bill, while it does not discuss abortion directly and does not fail on every point listed above, is worth mentioning because the bill amends a short, simple act that would classify abortion as murder, if it were not for the mother being given complete immunity if it is her own conduct that results in the death of her preborn child (see Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-388 to 28-394).
Summary:
The Homicide of the Unborn Child Act defines homicide crimes against an unborn child: murder in the first and second degrees, manslaughter, and motor vehicle homicide. This bill amends the portion of the act concerning motor vehicle homicide against an unborn child (§ 28-394).
What it leaves completely unchanged is that the Homicide of the Unborn Child Act does not apply “when the act or conduct is” “committed or engaged in by the mother of the unborn child,” or concerns “any medical procedure performed with the consent of the mother” (§ 28-390).
Says that its purpose is to make the penalties for the homicide of an unborn child while driving under the influence match the penalties for other homicides committed while driving under the influence (Statement of Intent). But it will not accomplish this purpose, because the penalties are not applied equally. For if it is the mother of the preborn child who is driving under the influence, and she survives but her conduct kills her child, she would be held guiltless (§ 28-390).*
Homicide of an unborn child while driving under the influence is an uncommon offense. As a deputy county attorney has said, “It’s one of those laws you don’t see a lot.” By contrast, abortions take place so often in Nebraska that on average another preborn baby is murdered at least once every four hours, every single day. But according to the Homicide of the Unborn Child Act, because of the exception for mothers, this is not actually homicide. And LB124, while amending the act, does nothing to rectify this.
*In a review published by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, of 120 automotive crashes involving pregnant occupants, in over half of the cases (62.5%), the mother survived while the preborn child died.
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