RICHMOND (AP) - Legislation that says human life begins at conception advanced Monday in the Virginia House of Delegates, which also rejected an amendment aimed at clarifying that birth control would remain legal.
Delegates gave preliminary approval to Del. Bob Marshall's "personhood" bill on a voice vote, setting up likely passage Tuesday.
Marshall, R-Prince William, and one of the legislature's most outspoken abortion opponents, said the bill would not directly affect abortion but would establish a framework for parents to sue anyone who causes the death of their unborn child.
However, opponents have argued that the real aim of the bill is to lay the groundwork for outlawing abortion in Virginia if the U.S. Supreme Court ever reverses its Roe v. Wade decision that legalizes it nationwide. Del. Joe Morrissey, D-Henrico, asked Marshall directly if that was his intent.
"You'd have to be completely obtuse to not understand that is something I have worked for for 20 years," Marshall said.
Del. Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax, proposed an amendment declaring that nothing in the bill would be construed to affect legal contraception.
She said many forms of birth control work by preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg, so those types of contraception could run afoul of Marshall's bill.Va. House advances 'personhood' bill | Associated Press