By Steve Dunford –

Ever since I was getting information about House Bill 40, I have been considering how precious life is.  I do not apologize by saying this, but life begins at conception.

I appreciate the stand Dave Severin, Terri Bryant, and Brandon Phelps took for life on the house floor in Illinois.  Mike Bost stands for life.  I posted Dave Severin’s comments earlier in the day.  Most of all, I appreciate him standing up unashamedly as a Christian.

This is not going to be about politics, but Southern Illinois is swinging Republican. Even,though a pro choice agenda has been in the Democratic platform for years, I can think of one State Senator, State Representative or Congressman that possibly was pro choice that represented us.  Thank you to these men that are too many to mention that have stood up for life.

I have always been pro-life.  Life beginning at conception came so real to me when my wife was pregnant with my son.  Even though we are apart, she is still my wife.  I just want to make that clear.

When my wife was five weeks pregnant, she nearly miscarried.  At five weeks you could hear Andrew’s heartbeat.  That was not a tissue, that was a baby.

She had a high risk pregnancy.  It was nearly a weekly trip to Carbondale ER.  She spent ten days in the hospital when she was five months pregnant.

Through her pregnancy, there were several ultrasounds taken.  At every stage you could see my sons life develop.  I remember seeing the little fingers and toes for the first time.  I remember a male nurse in the ER one night, did a Doppler to check his heartbeat.  He told us we were going to have a boy before the sonogram showed it.

Every time I would see the pictures and images on the monitor, I would think how could anyone have an abortion.  What would be a joyous occasion, knowing my son was doing OK, would turn to a few seconds of sadness.

I know I am a guy writing this.  If you are pro-chioce, I am just sharing my opinion on the matter.  I never understood the line that a woman has a right to choose what she does with her body.  There is a body and a soul inside of you that can not defend itself. In my opinion, the choice was made at conception.

The legality of partial birth abortion blows my mind.  Delivering a baby and mutilating it, is gruesome to say the least.  If a woman would give birth, and throw the baby in a dumpster, she would be up on murder charges.  I have wondered over the years what is the difference.

I will be honest I used to take the stand that abortion should be legal in the case of rape, incest, and the mother’s life was in danger.  I used to think, when we were together, I would run the hypothetical question through my mind what if my wife was raped? I used to think could I really  Looking back, I would have loved that child and raised him like my own son.  Life is life no matter the situation.

This opinion was affirmed by my preacher Lloyd Whittaker, who shares his testimony on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.

This was in the early 50’s two decades before Roe v. Wade became the law of the land.  Lloyd’s mother’s life was in danger.  There was a doctor that was debating performing and abortion.

There was a Catholic doctor that kept praying for her.  Lloyd was delivered at the old Union Hospital in West Frankfort.

It was nearly twenty years before I was born in that same hospital.  I don’t even know the doctor’s name, but I thank God that he had the faith that Lloyd and his mother would make it, if anything else just for me.

I have heard a lot of preachers during my time, and he is one of the best.  What if he did not have the opportunity to bless me, and the souls over the years he shared the Gospel with?

I know this is a controversial hot topic.  I hope that this will make you consider how precious life is.  This is why I believe life begins at conception and am pro-life.

Steve Dunford – franklincounty-news.com

WASHINGTON, DC –  Last night Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) conducted a town hall meeting via telephone with his constituents. The meeting started at 6:45 p.m. local time.  The sophomore congressman apologized, saying there was a delay in voting on a bill on the house floor that held the meeting back.

In congressman Bost’s opening statements he gave two reasons for this format.  The first was he can reach over 80,000 constituents using this format.  Second, this format would be free of interruptions from protesters.  It is past precedence that GOP congressman have been subject to protesters that take over town hall meetings, not giving the whole constituency the right to speak.

There are some that are across the district that have voice their displeasure with Mike Bost for not holding a town hall meeting in person. There was a gathering at a Carbondale restaurant last night to where a suit was hanging up representing Bost.  The town hall meeting was carried over the establishments PA system.

The meeting was fast paced, the audio quality was outstanding, and there were several topics that were covered.

The only critique I have of the meeting if it could be on video somehow.  That way, charts, graphs, and any other visual aids could be used.  Other than that, I felt the tele town hall meeting format was very effective.

Before the congressman began to take calls, he cited some of his accomplishments since congress convened on the aid in passing veterans on coal legislation.  The calls were evenly distributed across the twelfth congressional district.

He also stressed that when he is in the district his door is open to meet at any time with constituents.

The majority  of the calls dealt with the Affordable Care Act.  The congressman referred to a three step process in the process, repair, replace then repeal.  Callers would give their individual circumstances and Bost would explain how the individual caller world benefit.  He said the goals of the new act would be provider based, and more affordable from competition.

There was one call that asked if the Congressman would vote for or against HB 861 which would eliminate the EPA.  He said that he would not vote for elimination completely, however, he stated there are some regulations that need cut.

There was one caller that inquired about the UMWA pensions.  He said something about the pension health insurance being paid out of mine acclimation funds.  I am working on getting some more information on this.  There was an extension that was voted on in congress to extend this until the end of April.

I am looking forward to the next meeting.  It is a great way to be informed what is taking place in Washington on our behalf.