Rand Paul reintroduces the Life at Conception Act

Kentucky Senator Dr Rand Paul this week reintroduced the Life at Conception Act (S. 231), which guarantees equal protection for each unborn life.  This legislation does not amend or interpret the Constitution but simply relies on the 14^th Amendment, which specifically authorizes Congress to enforce its provisions.

Section 1 of the 14th Amendment states, “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

“Our nation enshrined the fundamental concept of the right to life the moment we announced our independence to the world.  Today, thousands will stand in the heart of our capital for the March for Life to give voice to those who cannot speak and to call on our leaders to honor that commitment, Paul said.

“Our dedication to advancing liberty must start by preserving that of the most innocent among us.  I hope the message heard today loudly echoes throughout our country as we seek to restore a respect for life at all its stages.”

In an Op-Ed in The Hazard Herald, Dr Paul pens:

As a physician, I’ve treated one and two pound babies in the neonatal nursery. I’ve looked into the eyes of those tiny, miraculous beings. Whether they are in the womb or not, how can we say they don’t deserve the right to be defended?

One of the first things I learned as a physician was ‘do no harm.’ When I was elected to the Senate, I took an oath to defend your constitutional rights. As such, I believe it is both our moral and constitutional duty to protect the unborn, and it is time we restore America’s respect for life.

Related: 

• Sen. Rand Paul asks, ‘Can a civilization long endure if it does not respect Life?’, honors 2014 March for Life
• Rand Paul talks national bill on abortion versus states’ rights
• Hillary Clinton clarifies her abortion stance, Bernie Sanders ok with late-term abortions