Sen. Lindsey Graham says unborn children deserve protection

Sen. Lindsey Graham, who last week proposed federal legislation that would severely limit late-term abortions, said unborn children deserve protection.

“Pain is part of the human experience, and so is compassion for those who suffer pain. For too long, our nation’s laws have excluded unborn children from this compassion even when growing evidence shows they can feel pain at least by 15 weeks in their development​,” the South Carolina Republican wrote in an opinion piece published Sunday on the Fox News website. ​

“​That’s why we support and strongly encourage others in the pro-life community to rally behind the ‘Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act,’” he wrote in the piece, co-authored by Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

“This legislation sets a minimum national standard limiting abortion past 15 weeks. It would also allow states, which choose to do so, to take additional steps to protect unborn children,” the commentary said.​

“There is a point when states’ rights must give way to human rights. Life is one of those issues,” Graham said.

The senator said his legislation would put the US on par with the standard in European countries and differentiate America from regimes in China and North Korea.

“The US is one of a handful of nations, including China and North Korea, which allow abortion on demand right up to the moment of birth. It’s time we get America out of this heinous club and in-line with modern science and the rest of the civilized world,” Graham and Dannenfelser wrote. 

“Most of our European allies already limit abortion by at least 15 weeks. Developed nations like Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway allow abortion up to 12 weeks while France, Germany, Belgium, and Spain allow abortion up to 14 weeks,” they said.

“In total, 47 out of 50 European nations prohibit abortion by at the latest the 15th week — the same standard we are encouraging the United States to adopt,” the piece argues. 

Graham said that in the nearly 50 years since Roe v. Wade, Americans have been “denied a voice on abortion.

“But since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark case in June, some states have taken “action to protect the unborn” but others have not. 

“Today, in some states, there are currently no protections for the unborn. These states not only allow abortion on demand — up to the moment of birth — but are actively encouraging women to travel to their state to receive taxpayer-funded abortions,” Graham said.  

He said much of what is known about development before birth has changed “drastically” since Roe v. Wade in 1973, noting that at 15 weeks “unborn babies make fists and facial expressions.”

“According to WebMD, ‘Eyebrows and hair on the top of the head are beginning to grow, bones are getting harder, and the baby may even be sucking their thumb. Their organs are fully formed now and will continue to grow. You may be able to tell the baby’s sex this week with high-resolution ultrasound!’” he said. 

“​There is never a bad time to stand up for the unborn. The pro-life community should not stand by or stand down. We must speak up and speak out when states adopt inhumane standards on protecting life. We firmly reject the idea of legitimizing the cruelty of the North Korean and Chinese standard of abortion in America,” he said.