“It means I am against bans in the first trimester but believe second- and third-trimester abortions – when the baby can feel pain, has a beating heart, ten fingers, and ten toes – are abhorrent and should be restricted. It also means I support exceptions for rape, incest, and to save the mother’s life – as do the majority of Americans. My experiences as a husband, father, Christian, and conservative shaped my views on this issue.”

Because of those experiences, I believe life begins at conception. Advocates tend to discuss only one life when arguing their position – either the mother or the unborn child – but it involves two lives, and both must be respected. Pro-abortion advocates have shifted from “safe, legal, and rare” to abortion on demand. For some members of the General Assembly, any restriction on abortion is “extreme.” On an issue with such profound moral implications, I think it is courageous to speak publicly about your position even if others disagree.