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U.S. NEWS Friday 12 april 2019

Police again step in as Texas lawmaker halts abortion bill

By CLARICE SILBER permit. State troopers met that no states prosecuted
Associated Press the man at the home of women before the land-
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Bonnen, who said lawmak- mark Roe v. Wade decision
Texas sheriff's department ers and their families were that legalized abortion na-
said Thursday it had "secu- being "incessantly harassed tionwide. "My commitment
rity concerns" over social by fanatical gun rights ac- to advancing the pro-life
media posts targeting a tivists." cause is stronger than ever
Republican lawmaker, who The latest episode involves and that's why I cannot in
has come under fire by Republican state Rep. Jeff good conscience support
some conservative activ- Leach, who earlier this House Bill 896," Leach said.
ists after blocking a bill that week refused to advance Leach is a former mem-
could lead to a woman be- the anti-abortion bill in his ber of the Texas House
ing charged with homicide committee. He said Thurs- Freedom Caucus that has
if she has an abortion. day that local authorities pushed contentious bills
It marks the second time were monitoring his house over social issues, gun rights
this month that Texas law near Dallas but declined and anti-vaccination mea-
enforcement has taken further comment, referring sures. But he left the cau-
protective measures involv- questions to authorities. cus this year, which came
ing Republican lawmakers, "We have notified Repre- only months after narrowly
who in both cases have sentative Jeff Leach that winning re-election victory
been blamed by frustrated we are currently looking in suburban Dallas, where
groups for torpedoing di- into some security concerns Democrats in 2018 made
visive measures, first over related to him and are tak- In this March 7, 2019 file photo, State Rep. Jeff Leach, at podium, inroads in historically con-
guns and now abortion. ing appropriate measures," stands with fellow lawmakers and guests to talk about the Texas servative districts.
Born-Alive bill, in Austin, Texas.
Last week, House Speaker Sgt. Nick Bristow of the Col- Associated Press The anti-abortion bill spon-
Dennis Bonnen said a gun- lin County sheriff's office sored by Republican Rep.
rights advocate went to his said in a statement. Leach, who chairs the bill would not advance. Tony Tinderholt would di-
family residence over dis- He would not elaborate House committee that held Prominent anti-abortion rect the state to enforce
pleasure that lawmakers about what measures sher- a public hearing on the groups in Texas have also the measure regardless of
weren't seriously consider- iff's deputies have taken or measure, known as House come out against the mea- any contrary federal law,
ing efforts to legalize car- provide details about the Bill 896, said in a statement sure, including the Texas Al- executive order or court
rying a handgun without a nature of the posts. posted on Twitter that the liance for Life, which noted decision. q