Victories for our Families

The following are examples of legislative victories shared by Virginia’s families!

• Passed “Connor’s Law,” protecting unborn children from acts of violence

  Created a separate legal penalty for anyone that injures or kills an unborn child during an attack on the mother. Legislation gained its name from the murders of Laci Peterson and her unborn child, Connor.

• Banned counterfeit forms of marriage such as “civil unions”

  This law voids any civil union, partnership, contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage. Such an arrangement entered into in another state or jurisdiction is void in Virginia and any contractual rights created thereby unenforceable.

• Required parental consent for minor girls seeking abortion

  Requires that one parent give consent for a minor child to have an abortion.

• Increased criminal penalties for possession of child pornography

  Child exploitation is one of the fastest growing crimes in the nation. This law increased the penalty for possession of child pornography from a misdemeanor to a felony in Virginia.

• Limited distribution of chemical abortion pills

  Blocked yearly legislation that would encourage the distribution of the so-called “morning after pill.” Pro-abortion groups seek to redefine what an abortion is so that these pills are not regulated as an abortifacient.

• Required posting of national motto “In God We Trust” in public buildings and schools

   

• Required Pledge of Allegiance in public schools

   

• Required “Moment of Silence” in public schools

  This law requires that every public school division conduct a moment of silence so each child can meditate or reflect.

• Required Internet filters be placed on public school computers

  Protects school children in Virginia from accidentally or intentionally accessing obscene material while exploring the Internet with a public school computer by requiring that schools install Internet filtering technology.

• Required Informed Consent

  Requires abortion clinics in Virginia provide information about the gestational development of an unborn child, full disclosure of the abortion procedure and information on alternatives such as adoption at least 24 hours prior to the abortion.

• Prohibited same sex marriage

  Considered a “Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), this law bans same sex marriage in Virginia and declares that Virginia will not recognize same sex marriages performed or recognized in other states.

• Allowed for local option for family life education

  State Board of Education granted

• Outlawed riverboat gambling

   

• Established education accountability in public schools

  Created Standards of Learning for public schools to improve student outcomes and increase school accountability.

• Reformed welfare