Kansas sort of recognizes life from conception

The Kansas legislature has passed an “omnibus” abortion bill, HB 2253. It’s so big that just the summary of the bill takes several pages. The bill states, in its findings, what should be obvious to everyone:

(1) The life of each human being begins at fertilization;
(2) unborn children have interests in life, health and well-being that should be protected; and
(3) the parents of unborn children have protectable interests in the life, health and well-being of the unborn children of such parents.
(b) On and after July 1, 2013, the laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every stage of development, all the rights, privileges and immunities available to other persons, citizens and residents of this state…

Too bad Kansas legislators didn’t just stop right there. Wouldn’t that alone be a beautiful law, one worthy of full support?

But instead the bill kowtows to the Supreme Court and contrary laws. Here’s the rest of 3(b):

…subject only to the constitution of the United States, and decisional interpretations thereof by the United States supreme court and specific provisions to the contrary in the Kansas constitution and the Kansas Statutes Annotated.

Just great. It states principle and truth only to negate it. That’s making a stand.

I like what the ACLU said about it. AP’s John Hanna reports that:

[Pro-aborts] don’t trust assertions from abortion opponents that the language on when life begins represents only a statement of principles.

"Could it be used as a tool of harassment? Absolutely," said Holly Weatherford, lobbyist and program director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri.

The ACLU is against harassment, except of course, when the victim is a child sleeping soundly in her mother’s womb.