By Naomi Fisher with Phil Erwin
California Assembly bill AB2333 was passed by both the Assembly Health and Assembly Judiciary Committees. It will be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, May 4, 2022. This article will clarify supporting and opposing viewpoints, and illuminate the truth about them.
The bill’s sponsor, Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) stated: “#AB2223 doesn’t prevent the state from keeping children safe. This isn’t a bill about infanticide. This is about protecting Californians who suffer pregnancy loss from being unjustly investigated, prosecuted or incarcerated.” https://twitter.com/BuffyWicks/status/1511457200568344577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm
Opponents of the bill insist that both the intent and the specific wording of the bill are to actually extend the legal concept of abortion to include infanticide: California Health and Safety Code (1) “…The bill would prohibit using the coroner’s statements on the certificate of fetal death to support a criminal prosecution…against any person….” Two Article Links:
https://trackbill.com/bill/california-assembly-bill-2223-reproductive-health/2227824/
AB2223, SEC. 7. Added section 123467, “…Notwithstanding any other law, a person shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or penalty…including miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, or perinatal death due to a pregnancy-related cause.”
But, AB2223 does not give a definition of the word perinatal.
The California Welfare & Institutions Code: Section 14134.5, item (b) “Perinatal” means the period from the establishment of pregnancy to one month following delivery…..” Link:
https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/welfare-and-institutions-code/wic-sect-14134-5.html
That is a California State Code – what proponents of AB2223 would invoke whenever a living, breathing, human baby up to one month of age is killed – in which case AB2223 would prevent any legal action from being taken against the person or persons responsible, regardless of method. It actually legalizes infanticide (the murder of children) for one month after birth.
“California’s ‘Infanticide Bill’ Isn’t Fixed by Latest Amendments, Legal Experts and Pro-Life Groups Warn…” By Craig Bannister, blog editor for CNS News and contributing writer for mrc NewsBusters, 4/22/22. Link:
Jonathan Keller, California Family Council President stated, “AB 2223 is the deadliest bill ever introduced in the California legislature. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks claims her bill isn’t about infanticide, but even the Democratic staff of the [Assembly] Judiciary Committee warned the bill could legalize the ‘death of a newborn for any reason.’” [But they passed it anyway.]
In fact, Keller’s statement misses a key detail, which is this: There actually is a legal difference between ending a child’s life before, or after, its birth. Because once that child has left the womb, had its umbilical cord severed and taken its first breath, it is no longer a fetus! It is a living, breathing human being. And if it is born in this country, it is also an American citizen, with all the civil rights accorded to any other citizen of this nation!
It is therefore impossible to escape the legal implication that ending a child’s life once it is born and breathing is precisely the same as killing it a year later. Or two. Or twenty.
That is a far cry from merely “protecting pregnant women…”
Our society is struggling with the moral question of whether, and when, the ending of an unborn fetus’ life crosses either the legal, or the moral line that separates female healthcare from the killing of a child. But, there really can be no difference between legality and morality: When an infant is breathing on its own, it is a living human being. Killing it is classified legally as a homicide: Ending the life of a human being.
In Law, there still is a lingering question: Is the taking of that life justified?
AB 2223 essentially classifies that question as legally irrelevant for up to the first month of a child’s living, breathing, separate, rights-imbued life.
An entire month during which another human can smother that child and call it “abortion.” Legally.
Are you good with that?
If you think that is unjust, regardless of your moral views, you owe it to the legal future of your state and your community to speak out against this absurd violation of human rights. You should of course call your Congressional representatives, and write them as well. Enough of us doing so can, and sometimes does, change the legislative outcomes.
But should the bill pass you can find legal organizations that are willing and able to do the fighting for you, and support them with donations that they use to defray their own court and other legal costs. One such organization that has been increasingly active in California, and extremely effective in their legal battles, is the Center for American Liberty. Founded and run by Harmeet Dhillon, their stated mission is to “[defend] the civil liberties of Americans left behind by civil rights legacy organizations.” You can bet that if this monstrous bill is actually passed, the Center will have a suit filed the very next day! Here is their Website:
Naomi Fisher is a resident of Ventura County
Phil Erwin is an author, IT administrator and registered Independent living in Newbury Park. He would like to support some Democrat ideals, but he has a visceral hatred for Lies and Damn Lies (and is highly suspicious of Statistics.) That pretty much eliminates supporting most Democrats, and a bunch of Republicans to boot.
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