The next set of elections draws nigh. Often in the past, commentary has been made about the character of various candidates. As we look at candidates in the upcoming election, we might ask how they view or treat the innocent, those who are unable to speak for themselves or defend themselves.

A candidate for Congress, Pat Ryan who is currently in Congress but is running in a different district, graduated from West Point and served in Iraq (for which we say thank you for the service to the country). One could expect he would be someone who would look out for the best for the innocent, however, this is not true. Much of his campaign in the recent special election touted protection of abortion. He gave no qualifiers nor does his website give qualifiers, only that he appears to support returning to Roe v. Wade, and supports the current abortion laws in New York. This means he supports abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy, a concept I find perplexing for someone who has children of his own. How can this be? How can he support the barbaric procedure of a ninth-month abortion of the innocent when it could be presumed his oath of military service included protection of the innocent? Why has he gone this route?

In addition to Congressman Ryan, we must examine the candidates Ms. Sarahana Shrestha (NYS Assembly) and Senator Chuck Schumer. Likewise, they have said nothing to prevent abortion of the innocent in the ninth month of pregnancy, a policy, which by the way, puts us on par with Communist China and North Korea. Further, Senator Schumer not only supports such a policy but vehemently attacked the Supreme Court for the Dobbs decision, ungraciously eroding the standing of that institution. If these three people won’t support protection of the innocent from barbaric procedures, do we want them enacting laws for the rest of us?

Instead of the three candidates mentioned above, three people to whom we can look to enact just laws are Colin Schmitt (serving in the Army National Guard) in the 18th Congressional District, Patrick Sheehan in the 103rd NY Assembly District, and Joe Pinion for U.S. Senator. Choose wisely.