SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5

(By Senators Yoder, Grubb, Macnaughtan

Blatnik and Walker)



Condemning murder and violence and those who help foster an atmosphere conducive to murder and violence at health clinics in West Virginia and throughout the nation.

Whereas, Instances of murder and extreme violence at health clinics have increased dramatically in recent years; and
Whereas, On a national scale there have been eight attempted murders, four actual murders, four attempted acts of arson, five actual acts of arson, three bombings and two severe assaults at health clinics as of the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-four; and
Whereas, Health clinics providing abortion services are operating within the confines of the law; and
Whereas, Law abiding employees, patients and visitors of health clinics are fearful for their safety in the wake of such acts of murder and extreme violence; and
Whereas, Rhetoric of an inflammatory nature tends to spur such acts of murder and extreme violence; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That violence at health clinics is morally and legally wrong and must be rejected as a method of resolving public policy disputes; and, be it
Further Resolved, That rhetoric designed to inflame passions creates a hostile atmosphere fostering acts of violence and thereby encouraging such acts; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature condemns such acts of murder, violence and inflammatory and hateful rhetoric; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature seeks to ensure that the safety and well-being of employees, patients and visitors of health clinics is maintained; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislature encourages all parties in this and other controversial public policy disputes to work within the established constitutional framework and system of law to resolve such disputes.