Testimony: Ohio Senate Health, Human Services, and Aging Committee

Below is the testimony I delivered before the Ohio Senate Health, Human Services, and Aging Committee on December 13, 2011 regarding House Bill 125, which would prohibit abortion after the medical detection of a fetal heartbeat.

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, my name is Seth Drayer and I come before you interested in the fate of House Bill 125. In particular, I want to refer to Division E of the bill’s language, which prohibits the practice of abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat.

Lines 1 and 5 of Division E give clarity to the thrust of this legislation—not merely to provide the opportunity for detection of a fetal heartbeat, but to prohibit abortion once that heartbeat has been detected. It is this portion of the bill in particular which I champion—for it is another step in our nation’s long march of civil rights. Civil rights means not only providing education of the humanity of the unborn but protecting them from death—just as veritable civil rights for the 20^th century African-American would not have been informing others of his humanity but giving legal protection.

As a citizen of the state of Ohio, I’ve followed arguments against this portion of the bill, and I feel compelled to respond. Some say prohibiting abortion in this way would restrict women’s rightful choice. But every person who says that would condemn a society for allowing women to kill their born children in the name of choice. Why? Because born children are human. But modern science confirms that unborn fetuses are human, too. Thus, they must be equally protected.

Please note that I said “science,” not religion. The humanity of the unborn is a scientific matter, not a religious question.

We would never allow the killing of a born child no matter how long her parents had labored or prayed over the idea. We would never allow the killing of a born child for health anomalies. Why? Because born children are human. But, again, science confirms that fetuses are human, too.

Indeed, to prohibit abortion is no less to restrict the rights of women than telling women they may not kill their toddlers or shoot their husbands. These are not rights. These are acts of injustice which must not be permitted in a civilized society like our own. The state makes decisions like these for us all of the time. When I go home tonight, the state has told me that I may not kill my wife or my one month old daughter. The government does not trust me to decide what to do.

Others have said that this will prevent women who’ve been violated by rape and incest from getting the care they need. First, I must note that I am struck that this is the only issue where our society justifies itself in killing children for the sins of their fathers. While I therefore believe abortion should not be permitted for rape or incest, we must keep our discussion relevant to the bill in question. These violated women are given the best aid when they seek immediate care—and House Bill 125 would not prohibit abortion in their situations because these immediate responses to the rape or incest would occur prior to the medical detection of a fetal heartbeat at six to seven weeks gestational age. While a matter worth discussing, questions of rape or incest are truly irrelevant to the legislation on your desks.

I’ve also heard some say that this is not the right issue—that our state legislature should be taking up the matter of jobs and the economy rather than abortion legislation. I do not argue the importance of fiscal debate, yet I ask: what could be more important than the securing of human rights? If thousands of toddlers were being killed daily, who would dare stand before you today and tell you to leave that matter aside in preference of economic policy? Toddlers are humans. Fetuses are humans. Do we in 21^st century Ohio stand for human rights for all or have we decided that some humans are not equal?

I spent a few years working as the Youth Minister of Trinity Evangelical Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and one thing I impressed upon my group was Jesus’ words in John 14: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Throughout scripture God condemns the shedding of innocent blood. Further, the Bible does not condemn judgment. Rather, it condemns hypocritical judgment. Matthew 7:3-5 does not tell us not to remove the speck of our brother’s eye. We are told first to remove our own plank and then we will see clearly to judge our brother’s speck. Therefore I tell you today the same thing I told my youth: to follow the Christian God is to oppose the daily destruction of unborn humans. This bill does that.

But even if you are not a Christian, I urge you to remember your nation’s creed—that all men are created equal. To allow the killing of unborn humans is an utter violation of this creed. You have an unprecedented opportunity to honor this creed written by the founders and echoed by human rights champions such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Now is the time to champion human rights. The power is in your grasp. Will you allow injustice? Will you inform women? Or will you protect young humans? Let’s move forward in Ohio and make history as we end prejudice and fight for human rights. Please pass this bill, because otherwise human children will certainly continue to die.