JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Concerned Women for America (CWA) State Director Bev Ehlen has called on members and supporters to take action to get a bill filed by Rep. Mike Moon, R-Springfield, to committee.
“Rep. Mike Moon has done it again! HB1033 may be the most meaningful and important bill he has filed! Check it out at house.mo.gov. Please contact Speaker John Diehl and ask him to assign HB1033 to the Health and Mental Health Committee,” Ehlen said on social media.
The bill fits on less than a page, but would repeal an entire section of state law, replacing it with statute defining life beginning at conception.
Section A. Section 1.205, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, 2 to be known as section 1.205, to read as follows:
1.205 The general assembly of this state finds that:
(1) The life of each human being begins at conception;
(2) Unborn children have protectable interests in life, health, and well-being;
(3) The natural parents of unborn children have protectable interests in the life, health, and well-being of their unborn child.
Effective January 1, 1988, 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[, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and decisional interpretations thereof by the United 10 States Supreme Court and specific provisions to the contrary in the statutes and constitution of 11 this state].
As used in this section, the term “unborn children” or “unborn child” shall include all unborn child or children or the offspring of human beings from the moment of conception until birth at every stage of biological development.
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as creating a cause of action against a woman for indirectly harming her unborn child by failing to properly care for herself or by failing to follow any particular program of prenatal care.
Concerned Women for America (CWA) is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization. The group lauds a rich 35-year history of helping members across the country “bring Biblical principles into all levels of public policy. There’s a cultural battle raging across this country and CWA is on the frontline protecting those values through prayer and action.”
Ehlen is seen on a daily basis in the Capitol lobbying for conservative causes.
Several other states, including Texas and Oklahoma, have considered “personhood” laws that define the beginning of life as the moment of conception.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
