SB 277,
California Mandatory
Vaccination Bill, in
Spite of Ground Swelling
Opposition, Moves on to
the Judicial Committee
by Orlean Koehle, State
President Eagle Forum of
California - (Click on
image to launch video)
SB
277, authored by Senator
Richard Pan, a
pediatrician, was
written (so he states)
in response to the many
unvaccinated children
who came down with
measles and whooping
cough last fall after
being exposed at Disney
Land. The bill would
make vaccinations
mandatory for any child
in public schools in
California, with no
religious exemptions,
only an exemption
allowed for medical
reasons. Rumor has it
that there is much
funding and lobbying for
this bill coming from
big pharma, which, of
course, would be making
much money if their
vaccines were made
mandatory in California.
The first hearing on SB
277 was held on April 8
before the Senate Health
Committee, with an
explosion of unexpected
opposition by more than
two thousand people who
held a rally against it
in front of the Capital
building in Sacramento.
Many had traveled eight
hours across the state
to express their
opposition, some even
bringing their children.
Parents expressed their
fears that vaccinations
are actually harmful for
their children. Many
stated that we are not
being told the truth
about the harmful
contents of the vaccines
and their side effects.
Some believe the huge
rise in autism (now
close to 1 in 50 for
boys) is a result of
these vaccinations.
Parents also stated that
making vaccinations
mandatory is an
infringement on their
parental rights and
religious freedoms. Many
stated they would pull
their children out of
public schools and home
school if this bill is
passed.
The Sergeant of Arms
said it was the biggest
crowd he had seen
gathered to oppose a
bill in the past 15
years. There were 4
overflow rooms filled
with people wanting to
testify, with 490 people
actually speaking
against the bill.
Thousands of people had
also called in or sent
faxes to oppose the
bill. In spite of all
that, typical of
California legislators
who seem to care less as
to what the majority of
the people want, the
Senate Health Committee
passed the bill with a
vote of 6 to 2.
In an opposition letter
sent by Orlean Koehle,
State President Eagle
Forum of California, and
Louise Gliatto,
Legislative Advisor for
Eagle Forum and Director
for the Issue of
Vaccinations, they
stated, “Parents should
not be forced to have
their children injected
against their judgment,
in exchange for an
education that they have
paid for with their own
tax dollars. This bill
will take away parental
rights to make medical
decision for our
children; it will
trample on the first
amendment rights of many
religious groups. This
is not about whether you
agree with the safety or
efficacy of vaccination
but about our rights as
parents and about
control by the
government who think
they know what is best
for our children.”
On April 15, SB 277
moved on to the next
committee – Education.
Again, parents and other
concerned citizens, many
of them medical doctors
and nurses themselves,
held a second protest
rally, and again over
400 people, including
children, spoke at the
hearing to express their
opposition to the bill.
This time the committee
listened. Especially
after the question was
asked, “Don't all kids
-- whether they are
vaccinated or not --
have a right to a public
education?” The bill was
pulled when the chairman
of the committee
suggested to Senator Pan
that he did not have
enough votes to pass it.
However, the vote took
place one week later
after a few amendments
were added by Senator
Pan to supposedly make
it less restricting on
home schooled children.
In spite of a room full
of opposition and people
wanting to express their
opinions again, the
education committee did
not allow for any more
discussion. The vote was
taken and the bill was
passed 7 to 2 to move
onto the next committee,
which is judiciary. The
hearing will be next
Tuesday, April 28.
As one can imagine, the
thousands of parents,
grandparents, even
doctors and nurses, who
spoke out against SB
227, are greatly
disappointed. Such a
ground swell of
opposition and the
Education Committee
essentially ignored them
and passed it anyway –
as the health committee
had the week before. One
can understand why the
legislature of
California is named
“dysfunctional.” The
rally against SB 277 can
be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxz2sbEci8M
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