Military Abortion Amendment Struck Down
by Marshall Ramsey II, Worthy News U.S. Correspondent
Washington D.C. (Worthy News)– In what many consider a stunning upset, the Senate struck down a proposal to stop a Republican-led filibuster designed to stop abortions from being performed on U.S. military bases.
The Defense Department bill contained an amendment allowing abortions to be performed at all U.S. military bases, both domestically and abroad. Abortion advocates for years have tried to force military base hospitals to perform abortions on women serving in the military. The House of representatives voted against a similar amendment in 2006.
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, told LifeNews.com he is pleased by the Senate vote.
“This is a victory for the men and women who serve our nation in uniform. At least for now they will not be used to advance a radical social agenda,” he said. “We applaud Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator John McCain and Senator Jim Inhofe for their successful efforts to stop this legislation which would … turn our military hospitals into abortion clinics.”
INTENSE OPPOSITION
As reported earlier, more than 200 physicians who have ministered to US service members signed a letter to members of the Senate protesting the Burris amendment, so called after its sponsor, Roland Burris. The 16,000-member Christian Medical Association organized the letter and urged lawmakers to vote against the National Defense Authorization Act unless it was removed.
“If enacted, requiring military physicians to perform abortions threatens military readiness. Morale will suffer among those already serving. Morale is a key component of military effectiveness,” said CMA Senior Vice President Gene Rudd, MD. “Furthermore, just as we have seen a marked decrease in young doctors entering OB/GYN training for fear of being forced to do abortion, this requirement will discourage young doctors from joining the military.”
Former President Bill Clinton allowed abortions to be performed on military bases from 1993-1996. This prompted all military physicians and many nurses and support personnel to refuse to perform, or even assist, in performing abortions.