Speech at the Virginia State Capitol Grounds

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. THE HISTORICAL ROOTS OF VIRGINIA GAVE BIRTH TO THIS GREAT NATION — THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND THIS NATION WAS FOUNDED UPON WORDS PENNED BY A FAMOUS VIRGINIAN. WE KNOW THESE WORDS VERY WELL. THEY SAY:

WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT. THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS. AMONG THESE: LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

OUR NATION WAS FOUNDED UPON THE UNSHAKABLE PRINCIPLE THAT LIFE IS A GIFT FROM THE CREATOR. AS SUCH, NO GOVERNMENT CAN DENY IT TO ANY HUMAN BEING BECAUSE EVERY HUMAN BEING IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD AND ACCORDINGLY HAS THIS UNALIENABLE RIGHT TO LIFE.

FOR NEARLY TWO CENTURIES OUR AMERICAN REPUBLIC HONORED THIS FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE. BUT IN 1973 A VERY STRANGE EVENT OCCURRED. OUR SUPREME COURT DECLARED THAT UNBORN HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT PERSONS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION AND THUS, ARE NOT AFFORDED THIS GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO LIFE. AND ABORTION, A VIOLENT ACT AGAINST AN INNOCENT HUMAN BEING AND AN ACT THAT ONCE WAS CONSIDERED UNTHINKABLE IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY, BECAME A FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.

THIS DECISION OF ROE V. WADE PAVED THE WAY FOR AN ANNUAL MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ABORTION INDUSTRY THAT IS FUNDED, IN PART, WITH YOUR TAX-DOLLARS. IN VIRGINIA TODAY WE HAVE OVER 20 ABORTION CLINICS OPERATING UNREGULATED, DESTROYING THE LIVES OF UNBORN CHILDREN AND EXPLOITING WOMEN IN CRISIS PREGNANCIES.

WE STAND TODAY ON OUR VIRGINIA HERITAGE AND PROCLAIM THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING, REGARDLESS OF COLOR, BORN AND UNBORN, THE ELDERLY, THE INFIRM, THE DYING, EVERY LITTLE BOY AND EVERY LITTLE GIRL IS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD AND AS SUCH ARE ENDOWED BY OUR CREATOR WITH THE FUNDAMENTAL AND BIBLICAL RIGHTS OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

AND WE CALL UPON OUR GOVERNOR AND ELECTED LEADERS TODAY TO HONOR OUR VIRGINIA HERITAGE AND ISSUE REGULATIONS AGAINST THE ABORTION CLINICS OF THIS STATE THAT WILL SAVE THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND PRESERVE OUR POSTERITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

WE DEDICATE OURSELVES TO THIS CALLING AND TO EACH OTHER, IN THE WORDS OF A FAMOUS VIRGINIAN, TODAY WE “PLEDGE OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES AND OUR SACRED HONOR.”