U.S. Congressman Says ‘Fight for Life’ is Making Strides   

In this exclusive interview, Jay Sekulow talks with Congressman Roy Blunt, R. -Mo, about new bills that could help to further define the “status” of the unborn.   

Jay Sekulow:  United States Congressman Roy Blunt, who serves as a Congressman from Missouri from the Seventh Congressional District and is the Deputy Majority Whip serving with Tom Delay, joins us to discuss an important bill that helps further define the rights of the unborn.  Congressman Blunt, this looks like some great action coming from the House?  

Rep. Roy Blunt: I think you're exactly right, Jay, some of these battles that we have worked on and fought for so long, are about to come to conclusion.  For example, I’m confident that the ACLJ’s petition drive to ban partial birth abortion will land on President Bush’s desk, and that he will sign it this year.   We are also looking for the ACLJ’s help to make sure that the ‘constitutional standard’ is met in that bill as well.    

Jay Sekulow:  You have some legislation—that I consider pro-life legislation—which basically stands up for an unborn child in the context of a violent crime.  What exactly will that federal law do? 

Rep. Roy Blunt:  This law will make the taking of an unborn life have consequences in the context of the commission of a violent crime.   Right now, if you take a life or assault another person, you face some penalties and consequences.  This would create federal consequences for the taking of unborn life in that setting.   

It's another step toward recognizing that life has meaning and purpose—this time inside the womb.   The American people have generally come to recognize that violent action –as an action—is wrong and that it should be punished, including the willful taking of life in a crime.  That is also seen as something that is unacceptable in our society.    

Jay Sekulow:  So in a situation that there was, let's say, an assault on a woman who was pregnant and the unborn child is then killed as a result of this crime, there are now going to be consequences, criminal consequences to that? 

Rep. Roy Blunt:  There would be.  And it would place value on that unborn life, that was taken at that time. 

Jay Sekulow:  What is the mood of your colleagues in Congress on that particular legislation?  Is it something we will see coming up shortly, and is it going to face the opposition from those on the other side of the isle? 

Rep. Roy Blunt:  Even though the vast majority of the country is now on the side of punishing criminals for this kind of activity, there will be some who oppose it.  There are  some people—many of whom are not badly motivated—who see this as a slippery slope type of argument.   They would argue that it is dangerous to establish that “life matters” in the case of the pre-born, just like in the partial birth argument.  The more you establish that principle, the more you erode away the argument that taking life is a matter of birth control.    I think this bill will be coming to the floor before too long in my opinion. 

Jay Sekulow:  What is this bill going to be called? 

Rep. Roy Blunt:  I think it's the "Unborn Victim of Violence Act".(Needs AcobatReader)  That's what we called it last time.  The House has passed this before and I believe will pass again. 

Jay Sekulow:  From a time standpoint, you're saying that we can expect some movement shortly? How does the issue look on the Senate side—how  do you see it developing there?  

Rep. Roy Blunt: Well the whips office counts the votes in the House on every issue everyday.  So we always have a pretty good sense of where I think the House is.  I'm not sure where the Senate is, although the Senate has had a comfortable majority on these kinds of issues—you know, like in the partial birth vote.   We haven't had an overriding veto majority in the Senate, but I think the majority is there on both sides.  The difference now is that we have a President who will sign these kinds of bills. 

Jay Sekulow: Congressmen Blunt may I ask you this from a purely practical standpoint: We're receiving a lot of calls in our offices around the United States,  and also from our radio broadcast.   People are saying, ‘we want to see movement, we know this is an important issue.’ How important is it for members of the House to hear from their constituents, whether it's through the petition drive or through the emails or phone calls? 

Rep. Roy Blunt: I think it's very important.  In fact, I think it’s actually most helpful on issues like these that they focus on a specific bill, rather than asking their Congressman to generally ‘set a higher standard’ on issues of life and protecting the unborn.   

I think the strategy of the partial birth abortion debate has been exactly the right strategy.  This is an issue, an area that is so egregious, so terrible, and so unacceptable that you begin to actually make an impact on the debate.  So I think those contacts are critically important.  And I think it’s even more helpful if you talk about the specifics of these bills, and why they need to pass.    

Jay Sekulow:  How do you see the movement generally on the abortion issue and life?  What do you see as the next piece of legislation coming down in the months ahead in? 

Rep. Roy Blunt: I do think, at least on these two issues, we'll see some significant movement this year.  We may see some other action later this year.  As you know Jay,  the debate in this country has really shifted in the direction of protecting innocent life for the first time.   

In fact, I think the question of protecting innocent life was actually part of a poll that college freshmen were given last fall. I guess maybe for the first time ever,.  the majority was opposed to abortion.  I believe this debate is helping to change the views of the country.   

When you think about an innocent unborn victim—with a mom and dad eager for that child to be born—then that unborn child is suddenly taken in a senseless crime, there should be punishment.  The country is in agreement that there should be punishment.    

Jay Sekulow: So should you contact members of the House and Senate? 

Rep. Roy Blunt: Absolutely.  Just make sure you contact them about specific bills, giving specific reasons why that bill—partial birth abortion, unborn victim of violence—that bill, should bear a vote—all of this is vital.

Related Information