St. Louis - March 5, 2009 - Ed Martin, President of Missourians United for Life today issued the following statement praising the Missouri House for passing Representative Bryan Pratt's (R-Blue Springs) legislation strengthening Missouri's informed consent laws and creating new penalties for coercing a woman into having an abortion:

"Missourians United for Life commends Representative Pratt and the Missouri House for passing these pro-life protections. It should be a crime to use physical violence or commit sexual assault to force a woman into having an abortion. It is also unconscionable for an abortion doctor to perform an abortion knowing the expectant mother is being coerced. If this legislation is enacted, abusive coercionists and unethical abortionists will be punished for their crimes. Missourians United for Life strongly urges the Missouri Senate to pass these overdue pro-life protections."

To learn more about Missourians United for Life or to join the fight for life go to http://www.MissouriansUnitedforLife.com