Why this site and why now?

This site is designed to help you — in order to help them live. There is a growing grassroots movement in Georgia seeking to reestablish the sanctity of each and every human life from conception to old age. Join together with men, women, and children from every walk of life and every denomination of the Christian faith in this mighty work of God's people to protect the lives of those little ones who are utterly unable to protect themselves. Help your fellow Georgia citizens end this terrible holocaust of human life.

Now is the time, as the momentum and the voices of concerned Georgians rise, for you to become part of something significant in the history of our land. As never before since the Roe v. Wade decision, we have within our grasp the instrument which will turn the tide — House Bill 1.

We believe that our voices do matter and that if enough of us speak out, the Judicial Committee members in the Georgia House will see to it that HB1 gets not only a fair hearing, but also a favorable vote that will carry it into the Rules Committee and then to the full House floor for a vote.

The crucial battle to see House Bill 1 become the law of our state is now at hand! We cannot let up in our efforts for so many lives are at stake.

We need to lobby strongly for the passage of HB1, the bill that puts Sanctity of Life principles to work on an every day basis in our state, shutting down and criminalizing the practice of abortion.

Welcome to Let Them Live

A site dedicated to the Sanctity of Life in Georgia

Report From the Field


Jennifer Hodges,
Pro-Life Unity National Director and Human Life Amendment Activist
(view Jenny's bio)

Keeping Our Eyes on the Ball

I'm not really much of a sports kind of gal. I'm a nerd at heart, and that goes for my entire family. We go to orchestra practice not soccer practice. But I do know this much. If you don't keep your eye on the ball, you aren't going to win.

The pro-life community seems to spend an appalling amount of time not ending abortion. We set up classes on sidewalk counseling, focus on parental notification, waiting periods, informed consent, embryos outside the womb, or ultrasound availability. Then we can't figure out why it is taking us 35+ years to end abortion.

Glenn Richardson made a telling statement at the Cobb GOP luncheon a couple weeks ago. He said, "We've given the pro-life community the Ultrasound bill and the Woman's Right to Know bill. What more do they want?"

When I was in DC last month, I was complaining that President Bush has not really done much to END abortion and gives more money to Planned Parenthood in the budget than any President previous. A well established leader looked at me incredulously and said, "Jenny, he's done everything we've asked for." My face turned to disgust and I said, "Then we aren't asking for enough."

We must end abortion now. Today. Immediately. That is the ball, that is the whole point of the fundraising, the networking, the organization building, and the conferences. But it is the one thing many organizations seem to have trouble discussing or participating in. When I go into pro-life meetings or conferences I always say, " I want to end abortion this year. That is my goal." Many people look at me like I have a third eye.

I urge all of you, keep your eye on the ball. We must end abortion this year. It is unacceptable that 40,000 children are being slaughtered in Atlanta this year. Public pressure, community indignation, elections coming up this summer are all powerful tools to stop the violence against our people. You can bring the blood shed to an end. Get your family, neighbors and church involved. Let's finally have victory that's By the people, Of the people, For the people, and For the babies!

An Uncomfortable Truth

February 27– One thing that struck me in the hearings for HR 536 was the testimony of the doctor panel. They were in unanimous agreement that to declare life begins at conception would outlaw the patch, ring, birth control pills and the IUD because all of these methods are abortifacients. In other words, these birth control measures will kill embryos. Anyone who imagined that Christians aren't killing off their own offspring with abortive measures should think long and hard about birth control pills. Doctors will not admit to patients that they are abortifacients, but in testimony before legislators, there was unanimous agreement.

Personally, the pastor who performed our marriage ceremony recommended that I use birth control pills for at least the first year of marriage. He, of course, had no idea that birth control pills are abortifacients, but this ignorance is rampant in the church and dangerous. We need to look at the people and pharmaceutical companies who have developed chemical means of inhibiting births. In our country, it flowed out of the American Eugenics Society and American Birth Control Society. Margaret Sanger was involved in both, and then moved on to found Planned Parenthood.

There are safe, natural ways to space children, but a medical community that does not value human life at the earliest stage is not going to explore, develop or recommend those methods.

If you are in support of HR 536 and HB 1, and you or your spouse are using IUD, birth control pills or the patch, you must re-examine your world view in theory and in practice. We have absorbed a lie from people who wish to exterminate Jews, Christians and African-Americans, and have embraced abortifacients as an acceptable method of family planning. We have diluted the value of embryos and humans at the earliest stages of development.

I have never heard of an Ob-Gyn who admitted that birth control pills and the patch are an abortifacients. But on a medical panel of 6 doctors who did not converse prior to the hearing, nor did they know each other, they unanimously testified that all these methods would be outlawed under the Human Life Amendment because they kill embryos.

That is today's uncomfortable truth.

Jenny

Many Are Called and Many Are Gifted to Stand for Life

February 26 – Yesterday I was in communication with Flip Benham, President of Operation Save America, and there is good news! Operation Save America is coming to Atlanta with their national conference July 12-19. 200 people will be here from all over the state and country, ready to pray, ready to train and equip and ready to hit the streets ministering to Atlanta. I hope that many of you will be able to get involved, and learn how we can be missionaries to our own city.

It is a joy to see the different ways God uses the body of His church. Occasionally I'll get a phone call from someone in greater Atlanta who feels like God is calling him or her into pro-life activism, and that person is interested in my guidance and counsel. I always tell them two things: First, be still and listen for what God is calling you to. Prayerfully seek Him and watch for the doors to open. Second, don't let anyone ever tell you you're outside your jurisdiction or intimidate you because you are new to the cause. It's a shame that ever happens, but since we are all sinners, it does. God doesn't just work through one person or organization. He speaks to all of us, prompting us, and moving in our spirits, drawing us in service to Him.

Anyone who claims to have the chief, only correct game plan, is probably wrong. That doesn't mean we shouldn't work together, and pray for one another. My point is that we must recognize our smallness and humble ourselves. Sometimes elitism emerges in the leadership and this is such a tragedy!

Abortion is a horrible thing. It is the culmination of the devaluing of humans, which has plagued us from even the earliest days of our history. We dehumanized the entire race of Africans brought here by slave merchants. They had no rights under the law, and the Virginia Slave Codes of 1705 made it clear that slave owners were free to brand, clip, or even kill their slaves with absolutely no penalties
under the law. We enslaved thousands of Native American Indians and sent them to sugar plantations on the sea islands. In the early 1900's states began passing forced sterilization laws and thousands upon thousands of people were forcibly sterilized. Some states have even begun issuing official legislative apologies for these atrocities. Ever heard of the Supreme Court case Buck v. Bell? It is worth Googling.

Today we have dehumanized the unborn, and the value of an unborn human is decided based on his parents, or more specifically his mother. Is the child wanted? Is the child convenient? A person's value is not based on his parents. It is based on the fact that a human is an image bearer of our God and Creator. Elites decide that one group of people is more valuable than another. Even in the Christian community this flawed thinking worms it's way in. How many of us have said, "At least pro-choice people are killing their own kind." Here we've decided that the babies slaughtered are less than the babies kept because of their parentage. It also distances us from the reality that women seeking abortions often feel trapped, and most profess Christianity. They are afraid of being looked down upon by their church, parents, friends, peers, because they are pregnant and not married. Studies have shown that more than 50% of women seeking abortions attend church or claim Christianity. So the idea that only pro-choice children are being aborted should be no consolation. We are all responsible for the innocent blood that cries out to God for justice. Furthermore, the children of professing Christians are being slaughtered in equal if not greater numbers.

Time is not on our side because we are losing 1.3 million children every year slaughtered in our neighborhoods and cities. We are responsible for this blood shed. Don't lose the urgency and importance of public pressure in local communities to shut down abortion clinics. Legislation is one way to shut down clinics. But nothing is as powerful as a community who won't stand for the presence of an abortion clinic down the street. In the 1970's there were over 2,000 abortion mills in America. Today there are 748. Where's the closest clinic to you?

For Life. . . For Liberty,
Jenny

Help Us Get HB1 to the House Floor for a Vote!

February 25 – I want to encourage all of you to go and read the couple field reports posted on the www.prolifeunity.com website covering the committee hearings that were held last week.

We have much work to do this week in getting HB1 a hearing in the main Judiciary Committee. All we need is a 10 minute hearing, even if they vote to Not Pass. This might sound confusing and ridiculous, but don't worry. The intricacies of the committee process and the House Rules can seem like a shadowed garbled mess. All will be clear in the end.

HB1 was forwarded out of sub-committee to committee with a recommendation to Not Pass. We need any member of the Judiciary to call for the bill to be heard. You can call Wendell Willard and ask him to give HB1 10 minutes in committee, enough time for Bobby to simply read the bill, and then give it an up or down vote. Here is Wendell's contact information: Office: 770-481-7100, Home: 770-392-0676, Capitol office: 404-656-5125 and fax 770-481-7111(this is his work office fax number, not Capitol fax).

Thanks for your help!
Jenny

Hearings on HB1 and HR536 Scheduled For Monday and Wednesday!

February 15 – The week of February 17th – 23rd will be a key week in the ongoing battle for life on the legislative level. The committee hearings will take place on Monday and Wednesday at 2pm in room 406 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building. Since space is limited, you should plan on getting there early.

Right now things are arranged so that the hearing for HR 536 will go first, and occupy all the time on Monday. Then on Wednesday the hearing for HB1 will begin. We are working hard to insure that HB1 receives a fair hearing and plenty of support. Next week, Martin Hawley will be in Haiti so updates will be posted by Jenny on the www.prolifeunity.com website every day.

As we move forward, please rest assured that there are many strategies that we will pursue this year in order to end abortion. Should doors close next week, it will simply energize us to re-evaluate and redirect our next efforts. Furthermore, the entire House and Senate are up for re-election this year. So we will be working hard to let every district know exactly where their legislator stood on the life issue.

One thing that you should be informed about is that HR 536 and HB1 go about ending abortion in drastically different ways. HR 536 is a constitutional amendment to establish personhood and thus challenge Roe v. Wade. HB1 sets out the case that murder is a state's issue, that the federal government does not have the jurisdiction to define or prosecute for murder, and thus our state of Georgia will define murder as including the intentional killing of children in the womb. The bill then sets out the method for prosecuting this kind of murder. There is nothing similar about these approaches to deal with abortion. It makes sense to attempt as many approaches as possible every legislative season.

For any organization or entity to be working against HR 536 because it attempts to challenge Roe v. Wade in a way that won't work (how anyone can know what will and won't work, I'm not certain), and then for this entity or organization to state that they are against HB1 for similar reasons, should raise a giant red flag in front of you. The bills are not similar enough to entertain the same logic for why they won't work. Please carefully read both bills so that you are equipped with the truth!

All of your letters and phone calls have really stirred things up at the House this year! HB 1 has been submitted and died every single year for the past four years without the public's knowledge. HR 536 was submitted in the '07 legislative year to attempt what HB1 attempts in a very different way. Look at how all of you getting involved has caused this issue to get so much public attention. Finally, these politicians will not be able to quietly kill this legislation in committee. They are dealing with an educated public and doing so in an election year! We must protect our unborn Georgians, and all of you are an important, vital part of that process.

Thank you for partnering with us in this great task. We will carry on this fight with every resource and every ounce of strength until all humanity in Georgia possesses the inalienable God-given right to life and liberty restored!

For Life. . . For Liberty,
Jenny

Speaker Richardson Opposed to HB1 and HR536!

February 12 – Today was the big Cobb County GOP luncheon down near the Capitol in the Sloppy Floyd building. It was held on the 20th floor, and had nice views of downtown Atlanta. The food was a plentiful array of fried chicken, biscuits and the usual side dishes. By the time everyone had helped themselves to the buffet and taken a seat, the main event began.

It was an opportunity for GOP leaders and people in the Cobb GOP to hear from their legislators, and more importantly the Speaker of the House. Speaker Glenn Richardson started things off by addressing the gathering of 100 folks, and giving a view of his agenda for the legislative season. He spoke for about 15 minutes and then opened the floor for questions. I took the opportunity and raised my hand. Since I was sitting in the very front, Glenn called on me first. I stood, turned to face the audience with my 24 week fetal baby, raised it in my arms and quickly explained that we abort 40,000 children every year in Georgia, and that we have the oldest gestational age in the country for on demand abortion. I realized that I was going to get called out of order for getting on a soap box rather than asking a question, so when the rebuke came, I turned by to Mr. Richardson, who looked rather on the mad side. I said," Considering that we have two excellent pieces of pro-life legislation in the House, what are you going to do to insure that HB1 and HR 536 get to the House floor for a vote?"

Glenn was fit to be tied. He got very red in the face and let the entire room know in no uncertain terms that he had no intentions of having HB1 and HR 536 on the House floor. There was a bit of a gasp in the room. Mr. Richardson went on to say that his concern was for the living children, and so he had legislation for a tax break of $2,000 for parents who adopt a foster child. This rang rather hollow, and I'm sure he knew it.

The Speaker from Hiram is up for re-election this year. I wonder if all of you are ok with the fact that he has no intentions of allowing pro-life legislation a fair vote this year. Please write him a letter immediately urging his support. The hearings for HR 536 and HB1 are on Monday and Wednesday of next week.

Mr. Richardson ran a campaign based on Godly, conservative prolife values. I don't think that he is living up to that standard. He has consistently undermined the pro-life legislation and the expectation of pro-life Georgians to protect our unborn people. We need to pray that Mr. Richardson would come to repentance and recognize that he has power to protect the people, rather than push his personal agenda.

For Life. . . For Liberty,
Jenny

February 12 – Today was a busy day at the Capitol. First, I attended the Cobb County GOP luncheon and then afterwards went over to one of the legislative buildings to drop petitions for HB 1 in the offices of Representatives.

Most of the legislators were gone from their offices, so I just left the petitions on their desk or with their secretary. At one office, I paused to talk to a secretary. She was quite young, maybe in her early twenties, and she enjoyed seeing all the fetal models, held each one and marveled at how developed and perfect the little bodies were. After a little while, she had to go pick up something, and she took me to another secretary in the office who had been answering the phone, and had not heard our conversation.

I spoke with this new person about the babies. She cradled each one, and then asked for me to point out the 10 week baby. She was quiet for a little while. I explained how I want abortion to end, but I
also want to make sure that mothers in crisis know that there is help for them. I talked about maternity homes and crisis pregnancy centers spread out all over Georgia. She listened attentively and then she shared her story. A long time ago she was 10 weeks pregnant with her little one. But her husband was very abusive, and she was scared for her safety and that of her first baby. She just couldn't risk bringing another baby into that situation. Her eyes glistened as she shared this with me. The office was empty, and I took in her pain that she carries with her. There wasn't much I could do, but I hugged her, and told her that I hurt for what she went through. She said that if she had known there were options for her, she would have kept her baby.

This is the important thing that I wish I could somehow make everyone see and understand. It isn't enough that we want abortion to stop. We must reach out our arms to find these women in crisis and help them. We are so busy protecting ourselves from the world, that we are missing the opportunity to impact a hurting world with the love and strength that Jesus brings.

One sorrowful legislator told me today that if we are losing 40,000 children every year to abortion, what on earth are we going to do to help 40,000 families keep those children. Sometimes, all these couples need is some encouragement and guidance. This isn't the first time thousands of people every year have faced unwanted pregnancies. We don't need a government dole to fix things, but we do need a private sector paying a limited tax, so that they can use their resources and energies to pull together private, church oriented, God centered solutions to families in crisis.

Right now 40 Days for Life is going on at Governor's Ridge off Powers Ferry Rd. 40 Days for Life is a 40 day peaceful prayerful vigil, taking a stand against the killing of innocent children . There is an abortionist in that complex, Dr. Daniel McBrayer, who aborts little ones, Monday through Saturday, from 7-11am. He has been killing children for 18 years. We are asking people to come and pray standing out on the public sidewalk holding signs exhorting these mothers to keep their children. We are also calling on our God to bring Dr. McBrayer to repentance and to turn away from the evil that he is doing. Please come out to Governor's Ridge any day in the month of February, and join in prayer. The leader is Margarita, whom you can reach by email: mszechenyi@sgintl.com.

Then should a mother come to the clinic in the same condition as the mother I met today, you can be there to give a testimony to the hope that she can know. You can save a little person and his mother this month. Will you come?

For Life . . . For Liberty,
Jenny

Stand Up , For Life. . . For Liberty

February 7 – Last night I met with a friend to discuss the next video footage we will be putting together in the battle for life and liberty. We met in a nearby coffee house, and over the course of our conversation, a woman approached the table having recognized my friend. After they greeted one another she turned to me, and inquired what I do. When I said I was the National Director for Pro-Life Unity, she immediately bristled.

"So what about rape and incest," she immediately started in. I looked at her calmly and said, "I believe that each individual has the individual right to life and liberty regardless of his parents' issues." She was clearly expecting this response. "I was raped when I was 14. What would you have said to me?" she continued. "I would say what I have said to other 14 year old rape victims in front of abortion mills. I would have offered to have you live with me for the pregnancy, that I would help you keep up your education, and that I would happily adopt the baby when he is born."

She reflected on that for a moment, but I don't think she really heard me. Her anger was mounting. "You would have forced me to stay pregnant with a baby I didn't want?" I looked at her wondering if there was even a point in continuing the conversation. But I replied," I would have endeavored to love both you and the baby. Why should a child die because his father did an evil thing. Why does that justify the death penalty for the child? He is a victim same as you are. You want to be loved as a victim, yet you are unwilling to love the other victim?"

She was furious by this response. "I just want you to know that you people scare me," and with that she turned on her heel and walked away.

Jesus said to love your neighbor as yourself. Surely, a child within the womb is at the least the neighbor of his mother. A woman who resents being put into a helpless situation and violated by rape, must even in her condition recognize that her baby is equally helpless and at the risk of being violated by murder. It is not compassionate to insist on the death of the 2nd victim. It is perpetuating the crime. Not even rapists are executed in this country, yet abortion should remain legal in the minds of many for the purpose of sentencing the children of rapists to death. To murder a child for the sin of his father is an evil act of aggression falsely labeled as compassion.

I had a very different conversation with a rape victim months ago. She approached me knowing who I was and told me her story of being raped at 16 and becoming pregnant with twins. She considered abortion but recognized that her growing sons were also victims. She chose to give them up for adoption. She said that she thinks of her sons everyday, and though sad that she gave them up, she rejoices that she recognized their right to life. She had reunited with them earlier in the year and said they were 19 years old now, and had expressed their gratefulness to her for life. This woman was able to heal and have closure from her traumatic experience in a way a post-abortive woman can never know.

Abortion for any reason is a murderous act. We must reach out to women in crisis and empower them by God's grace to recognize the victim in their womb, and help them learn to love the other victim as they love themselves.

For Life. . . For Liberty,
Jenny

Get Involved, For Life. . . For Liberty

February 6 – As the three younger children and I were in downtown Atlanta yesterday, making our way through parking garages, across busy intersections, up and down flights of stairs, in and out of security lines, and then elbowing our way through crowded hallways of lobbyists and legislators, the phrase "living sacrifice" kept coming to mind.

At one point in the hallway outside the Assembly Room as I was being jostled from behind, Oliver was being rebuked by security and Vivian was struggling with a fetal baby, I was endeavoring to appeal to a legislator, going over the facts of abortion in Atlanta which have become stale in my own mind, but bring fresh horror to the listener each time I repeat them. Someone picked up Vivian who cried out in distress, handed her to me, and I gave up on convincing the legislator, and pushed through the crowd to find a quiet corner to regroup. A fellow lobbyist approached me and was very encouraging. "You are pushy, forceful and determined, which is good. I know it's hard with the kids but keep it up. This is what these guys need to hear," she said, and then hurried back to her post. And so we did.

Carrying our fetal babies, we talked to Security, secretaries, lobbyists and legislators. Anyone who would listen. One security guard was completely taken with the baby models and asked to have the 12 week baby. I gave it to him, and then stood by and watched as he showed the baby to everyone who came by. A secretary stopped to look at the baby. She held it for a few moments in silence, then turned to me. "You need to come to my office and speak with the legislators there. They need to see this." One guard I spoke with had seen me at an NAACP event months previous. I had forgotten, but he remembered and still had my business card. He was very encouraging and said he would arrange for me to speak at the next NAACP event in March about the abortion holocaust.

I took the children outside to play on the Capitol grounds while I listened to messages and made phone calls. Gloria, a mother I had talked out of abortion in the late summer, called me. Her baby had been born. I had been out of touch with the family in December and January, and had sent a letter to Gloria last week. They lived in an inner city project called Bowen Homes, a horrible, violent complex. Gloria said that she and the kids were worried about me and wanted to make sure I was all right. And the great news: The family had moved out of Bowen Homes and had gotten a little house in a much safer neighborhood! God worked through the little bit that I did in giving this family fresh hope and new perspective, and their lives are improving. I pondered the change. God brought me into their life, to pray for them, help with clothes and food, and be concerned for their well being. Now, God has brought them to me to pray for my family and be concerned for our well being and our work in ending abortion.

I want to encourage all of you to get involved. The inexperienced voice of concern and help is better heard in a world where lobbyist and legislators jostle for recognition and power. If you have small
children, you are even better equipped to bring change. The presence of children and the appeals of children open hearts and minds to the reality of the humanity and defenselessness of the unborn.

For Life. . . For Liberty,
Jenny

February 5 – Yesterday I spoke with the chairman of the Judiciary sub-committee, Ed Lindsey. I wanted to go over a few things, what to expect and get an idea as to what side of the fence Ed was on concerning child murder. He stressed that the committee would focus on the constitutionality of the bill, putting special emphasis on the constitution part of that, as if there is no chance we could possibly do that.

It got me thinking about the transition of our country from an extension of Britain to an independent entity. England developed on the basis of a feudal system for managing the lands, property, and people. Recall Jane Austen's novels where the class system even in matters of the heart, is clearly laid out. Citizenship was a sticky point. If you were conceived and born to English parents, you were considered property of the crown. Recall that during the American War for Independence and even in its aftermath, were an American vessel seized by the Crown, its American-born sailors were pressed into serving the mother country's navy. The reasoning was that regardless of your place of birth, your parents determined who owned you. If Britain owned your parents, Britain owned you. Think back to John Newton, the angry sailor. How was it that Newton came to be a sailor? He was "kidnapped" by sailors of the crown. This was perfectly legal because the crown owned Newton.

Now let us consider the opening of the Declaration of Independence, or more specifically, the second paragraph. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." It was significant for these leaders to declare to Britain that their right to Life and thus Liberty was God granted. These leaders declared to be the property of themselves, and as such made claim to their rights to Liberty given not by the mother country, or by any government, but by God. Life and Liberty are inextricably bound. The human receives both simultaneously because it is embued not by human hands but by God. If the right to life is removed, the right to liberty is removed.

Abortion did not suddenly arise in the mid-20th century. The church fathers as early as the late first century wrote of the evil of killing humans in the womb, and the Old Testament speaks clearly of government ordered infanticide. One Georgia Legislator with whom I recently met spoke of the need for aborting deformed children, even outside the womb. His son had been born with genetic defects, and when three months old, his son's doctor had offered to euthanize the child. This legislator did not consider the killing of a genetically defective human being to be a problem, either in the womb or in early childhood.

We have allowed the Supreme Court to dictate to us that we are no longer our own but rather the property of our parents and the state. Until we reach a point of being able to personally employ a lawyer and defend ourselves, we cannot assume any liberties. We submit to those who erroneously claim an authority that is rightly vested only in God our Creator.

It is not possible to begin reclaiming liberty unless the right to our own life is firmly established. If we look to a branch of civil government to re-establish this right, we are already outside the presuppositions of our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. A civil government cannot give to us or take from us what has already been granted by God.

For Life. . . For Liberty,
Jenny

February 4 – I want to remind everyone who is a part of this important process that it is not sufficient for legislators to sign only onto HR 536; they must also sign HB1. Also, please remember that often legislators will sign onto a bill and then work to keep the bill from coming to the House floor for a vote. This way the legislator can let his district know that he was a co-sponsor without having a voting record to support that sponsorship. This may seem illogical to those of us who profess to be pro-life and truly want the murder of innocent unborn children to end. But with the hidden agenda of politicians it is the way the political machine works.

I am down at the Capitol at least two days a week. I will be sure to check at the Clerk's Office for an update of the legislators who have signed onto the bills, and will keep you informed. We will be dating the information in the email updates to insure that the information is as accurate as possible.

One of the ex-officio members, Tom Graves, was removed from his prestigious position and kicked out of his Capitol office by the Speaker, Glenn Richardson. Representative Grave's removal from being an ex-officio member is unfortunate since he is strongly pro-life and had committed that he would vote on the Judiciary Committee in favor of HB1. This is one more demonstration that Mr. Richardson has no problem pursuing his political agenda, but clearly has no interest in securing the right to life for unborn Georgians. We have removed Tom Graves from the list of ex-officio members on the letter lobbying list.

Thank you all for your continued support for the unborn. If you are able to come down to the Capitol, please give me a call. I would be happy to meet with you, and show you around. Also, a crucial date: Feb. 18th and Feb. 20th, both HR 536 and HB1 will be on the docket for a hearing in the House Judiciary Sub-Committee. You will want to be there early since there is limited seating. Please remember as you lobby our representatives to demand fair and equal hearing time for both of these crucial pieces of legislation.

Keep us in your prayers and keep the letters coming!
Jenny

Pro-Life Labels Don't Always Translate Into Pro-Life Voting!

February 3 – I must confess that now whenever I hear a preacher say to his congregation, "You must vote pro-life" I wince. The reason? Basically, this method of placing the burden of action on the voter rather than on the civil official has lead to a huge block of pro-life voters, but not a huge block of pro-life legislators. A politician says what gets him elected. Unfortunately, we trust that if they campaign as pro-life, they will support, promote and vote to end the barbaric act of aggression against innocent human life, no exceptions.

In my eight month campaign to abolish the murder of pre-born infants, I have yet to encounter a pro-choice organization or politician, but I've hit many road blocks. Unfortunately, it is those who claim to be pro-life that are the greatest block to achieving liberty for all Georgians, born and unborn.

Consider this, we supposedly have a pro-life majority in the House and Senate, besides having a pro-life Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, and House Speaker. These folks are all happy to show up at events, smile, shake hands, and give nice speeches on what a wonderful gift life is, but are they ensuring the end of child murder in Georgia? We lose thousands of children every month. We have the oldest gestational age in the country for on–demand abortion (26 weeks, 6 days gestation). The majority of our clinics do not have ambulatory surgical licenses. Many abortionists are not properly reporting their abortion numbers. And the vast majority of children aborted in our state are black. I have personally spoken with the Governor, his staff, the Secretary of State's staff, the Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources, BJ Walker, (appointed by Governor Purdue in '04) and a myriad of other people and they are not willing to get involved, even though it is their responsibility to do so.

When it comes to the legislators we elect, let's focus on raining them with phone calls, letters, and emails demanding action on this important issue. If they don't end abortion this year, they should be ousted from office. We must hold all of these people accountable! We must make it clear that the way they vote during this legislative session will determine how we vote in November!

When you contact your representative, the Governor, the Speaker or other ex-officio members, remember to emphasize that the people of Georgia have elected a pro-life majority and we expect them to abolish abortion this legislative season.

For Life,
Jenny

February 2 – Today I attended two political events, and the contrast in attendees at the two events was striking. The first event drew the usual political leadership crowd from various parts of Georgia. Those who are elected and those who get them elected. There were some friendly faces, but mostly people collected with those they already were quite familiar with, and discussed the same topics the same way. When the event got underway, the group was sparse. There were a few young people manning the sign in table and handing out literature, but the majority of the attendees were well past 30.

Later I went over to the Capitol for a political rally that drew all sorts of people. Moms and dads collected with strollers, hippies, business men in suits, teens with nose rings, elderly people, and lots of young people. A travel bus was parked across the street from the Capitol, and people were handing out Bic pens so attendees could sign the bus. Clearly the bus had been painted by a group with cans and paint brushes. No professionals here. And there was a pet monkey--yes, a real live monkey--who was attached to a collar and leash but allowed to hang half way out a window and shake hands with all the people walking by. He enthusiastically made noises and burrowed his little forehead. It was really quite adorable and in keeping with the unconventional nature of the rally. All political parties seemed to be present judging from what drew cheers from the crowd: Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Constitutionalists, Independents. Everyone greeted each other enthusiastically, and as the crowd steadily grew, you almost got the feeling that you were at a family reunion. When the speakers began, the crowd numbering at least 400 cheered enthusiastically. The topics covered varied hugely. The Constitution, history, Federal Reserve System, terrorism, right to life, individual freedom, taxation, media and the use of propaganda, etc. Quite frankly, the speakers were not dazzling personalities, and they all remained stationary, seemingly glued to the podium and mic. However, the message was electrifying. At one point an elderly man came forward from the crowd and asked the master of ceremonies if he could address the crowd. The podium was immediately surrendered, and the man offered his viewpoint and a funny quip. It was a pogniant moment--clearly, this was a movement of the people, by the people and for the people. When the speakers finished, no one seemed in a hurry to leave. They clearly enjoyed each other's company, and many commented on how the politicians would come and go, but the freedom lovers had found each other and would march forward.

I returned to the first event of the morning which was drawing to a close, and greeted a friend at the entrance. A man was leaving the building and said he'd had enough of politics for one day, and briskly headed to his car. When I entered the auditorium, the crowd had thinned to maybe 30 people. The last speaker got up and did a rather gutsy thing. He gave a rebuke to the remnant of loyal Republicans. He pointed out how the primaries in many states were drawing three times the number of Democrats as Republicans, and how the Republican party was losing members and gradually dying. They had sacrificed the ideals of the platform for power and popularity and had cast the Constitution aside in order to get on with the business of governing. The party has offered platitudes and lip service but has done nothing to substantiate their campaign promises. I thought this rang true especially on the life issue.

In the morning I had stood in the entry way of this event with my fetal models, and spoke with everyone who would give me opportunity about the abortion holocaust in Atlanta. Some people asked if I had spoken with the Governor, the Speaker, etc., and I affirmed that I had and not only had the Governor done nothing to remedy the lawlessness in the clinics, the Speaker was stone walling the legislation to stop the killing along with the other ex-officio members.

For all of us who make up the grassroots, we must not stand by and wait for our leadership to act in regard to life. The old ways have not worked, and we have passed 35 years of complete failure in defending the right to life. We must awaken from our apathy and slumber, recognize that we are each responsible and can effect change if we would only join together in cohesive, urgent action. Please don't wait. Write a letter tonight to your representative and an ex-officio member. Their addresses can be found on this site. It is our birthright and duty to defend the liberty of not only ourselves, but the million of unborn Georgians who will follow.

Georgia's HB 1

To amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated so as to provide that abortion procedures shall be unlawful in all events and to remove numerous references to such procedures; to amend Title 16, relating to crimes and offenses, so as to make certain findings of fact; to define certain terms; to provide that any abortion procedure shall be unlawful; to provide a penalty; to repeal certain exceptions to certain offenses; to provide for severability; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Previous Field Reports

January 2008

December 2007

November 2007