Patrick B. McGuigan

Published: 31-Mar-2010

A top pro-family leader said late today (Wednesday, March 31) that many concerns about House Bill 3202 (the Veterinary Practices Act) have now been addressed by amendments passed on the floor of the state Senate.

In statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, Michael Jestes, executive director of the Family Policy Council, thanked senators “for their serious and thoughtful consideration and for adopting” a floor amendment presented by state Sen. Mike Schultz of

Jestes said the changes specify  “that controlled dangerous substances will remain unavailable to all persons other than to licensed veterinarians.” The move, he said, “allays any reasonable public concerns that may have existed about possible misuse of veterinary medicines by humans for the purpose of abortion.”

Jestes said, “Like former President Ronald Reagan, we believe that in matters of human life, it is always best to err on the side of caution.” Jestes also praised President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee for working with Schulz and members of the Senate to provide the clarifying language.

The bill as a whole remains divisive among many rural Oklahomans.