On April 19^th the Pro-Life Generation showed up by the thousand to refuse California’s Assembly Bill (AB) 2223. This bill has been criticized for eradicating human rights for the preborn as it seeks to decriminalize the killing of infants, also known as infanticide. 

While portrayed as legislation that protects women who have had abortions, AB 2223 pushes moral and ethical boundaries by leaving room for abuse by abortionists to not take every measure possible to save a baby born alive, or even commit abortion after a child is born. 

Why AB 2223 doesn’t work 

The National Catholic Register reported: 

“At issue is one part of the bill, Section 7(a), which reads: “Notwithstanding any other law, a person shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability or penalty, or otherwise deprived of their rights, based on their actions or omissions with respect to their pregnancy or actual, potential, or alleged pregnancy outcome, including miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, or perinatal death.” 

The bill does not define “perinatal death.” … The California Welfare & Institutions Code defines perinatal as “the period from the establishment of pregnancy to one month following delivery.” 

It’s no wonder California Future of Abortion Council, led by Planned Parenthood, is in support of this legislation that increases access to abortion violence while decriminalizing murder of the preborn and the born. 

Susan Arnall of the Right to Life League of Southern California told reporters that the legislation prohibits a coroner’s inquiry into the cause of a perinatal death, which is needed to establish homicide. The bill uses intimidating tactics with the threat of civil action for those who report perinatal death.   

How the Pro-Life Generation is fighting back  

For years Students for Life Action (SFLAction) and Students for Life of America (SFLA) have been on the forefront of Born Alive pieces of legislation to prevent infanticide from taking place.  

SFLA and SFLAction President, Kristan Hawkins, previously said, “Requiring that newborns get the same kind of medical care wherever they enter the world is the least society can do for the least of these. Anyone saying that an infant should be left to die is an advocate for infanticide and is unfit for public office.”  

Over one thousand pro-lifers rallied in Sacramento in opposition to AB 2223, received information on the bill, and lobbied their local offices. “There were so many pro-lifers rallied that some places reached full capacity, it was encouraging to see,” said Lea Kalinowski, SFLA Regional Coordinator.   

Kalinowski and her team made remarkable progress discussing the bill with Assembly Members’ staff who had signs on their office door supporting Planned Parenthood. While one staffer offered a listening ear to their opposition, another was emotional and deeply moved by the conversation. 

“This staffer said she would read the bill and come back out to speak with our group or send her Assembly Member,” said Kalinowski. “After reading the bill, the staffer spoke privately with SFLA and shared how she lost her baby in a miscarriage but could hear her heartbeat at five weeks old. Tears welled up in her eyes and she said she knew her baby was a fighter. She told us she supported our efforts but couldn’t speak for her Assembly Member.”  

The raw emotion expressed by this staffer was met with empathy and prayer from Kalinowski and her team. While this bill was unfortunately passed through the committee, moments such as these are huge successes in the pro-life community. Every conversation has the potential to educate middle-of-the-ground folks into understanding the painful realities of abortion and change their mind.   

Another staffer shared his boss would not be supporting the bill and dozens of pro-lifers waited in line to state their opposition on the record. Lasting impressions were made and it’s clear the fight for life is certainly not through in California.  

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