NewsMax.com Wires
Friday, June 15, 2001

The Born Alive Infants Act, introduced by a group of Republican lawmakers led by Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, recognizes infants who are born alive as a "person, human being, child or individual," for purposes of federal law.

This law is necessary, say supporters, because recent debates over partial-birth abortions have blurred the definition of a human being.

"When I was first elected to the Senate, I never imagined a bill that protects the life of a newborn baby would be necessary," Santorum said.

"However, it has become clear through recent court decisions, congressional testimony, and the debate over the horrific partial-birth abortion procedure that the lines defining when a human life begins have been blurred to the point that it is now necessary to pass legislation in order to guarantee legal protections for newborn babies."

The supporters say the bill is necessary because court fights over partial-birth abortion have made it possible to kill survivors of abortion.

Although virtually every state has guidelines that prevent the killing or mistreatment of an infant regardless of his long-term viability, supporters say the definition of "alive" needs to be codified for future court fights.

One pro-abortion lobbyist said that the bill was intended to affect future court fights, but not in the way supporters claim.

"This is a rhetorical tool that the 'anti-choice' forces are using to mischaracterize the issue," she said. "Since they lost the partial- birth fight before the Supreme Court, they have been continuing to equate 'pro-choice' politicians as supporters of infanticide."

Some of the bill's supporters concede that it would do virtually nothing because federal laws, called "Baby Doe Laws," regulate that infants, even those with no chance of long-term survival, have to be treated compassionately and humanely. This includes being kept warm, fed and hydrated, according to sources. But whether those laws are enforced is another issue.

Copyright 2001 by United Press International.

All rights reserved.

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