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Editorial
This bill is fraudulent
In among the letters to the editor this week is an epistle from Del. Robert F. McDonnell (R-Virginia Beach) who is somewhat upset at the General Assembly’s latest foray into the abortion debate.
Provoking his ire is a “parental notification bill” sponsored by House Majority Leader C. Richard Cranwell. This creative piece of legislation would apply to girls younger than 16, but would not, in fact, require any sort of parental notification. Instead it would allow pregnant girls to “notify” any number of adults other than her parents: other family members, social workers, clergy, and counselors.
You should know that Rep. McDonnell is opposed to abortion on demand. Even so, his criticisms of the bill seem well founded. Regardless of your feelings on abortion, this bill is a bad deal. These requirements are so trivial that they would do nothing but clutter an impossibly bloated state code.
We do not need laws like this one. Those opposed to abortions on demand should understand that Rep. Cranwell’s bill is a farce. Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Manassas) has introduced a real parental notification bill with a 48-hour waiting period and the requirement that parents of both the girl and the father be notified. Should it somehow get through the General Assembly it faces an almost certain veto by Gov. Wilder.
Those who favor legalized abortions should understand that this bill is an election-year ploy that will permit legislators who actually support abortion to cater to those who do not. The voters do not need this charade.
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