Senator Jim Whitehead Sr. The state Senate is now well into the second half of the 2006 session, and legislative business is moving at a lightning-fast pace. We are rapidly headed towards "Crossover Day" in the General Assembly, which is the deadline for bills to be passed along from the House to the Senate or vice versa. Last week, the Republican-led Senate passed legislation that will further protect families and children in our state, which is one of the main reasons I began a career in public service - to protect the citizens of Georgia.

I am quite pleased to announce that legislation I have been working on for nearly two years, Senate Bill 123, has now passed. The bill provides that any pharmacist who states in writing an objection to an abortion on moral or religious grounds shall not be required to fill a prescription for a drug that will terminate a pregnancy. The refusal of the person to fill such prescription shall not form the basis of any disciplinary or recriminatory action against the person, including being fired from a job. The bill goes on to state that a pharmacist shall make reasonable efforts to locate another pharmacist who is willing to fill such prescription or shall immediately return the prescription to the holder. This legislation is long overdue, and I think it is a fair compromise. This legislation helps the hard-working pharmacists in our community by respecting their beliefs, while still allowing patients to go elsewhere to have their prescriptions filled.

Also last week, we passed Senate Bill 396, which many are now referring to as the "Castle Doctrine." This legislation protects the rights of law-abiding citizens by removing the "duty to retreat" if you are attacked in any place you have a right to be. The "duty to retreat" is often taken to mean that before defending themselves a person must attempt to retreat or run away from their attacker. The bill also stipulates that if a criminal breaks into your home, your occupied vehicle or your place of business, you may presume he or she is there to do bodily harm, and you may use any force against that person. The right to protect yourself, your children or your spouse should be guaranteed, no matter where you are. It is my position that Georgians who protect themselves and their families from criminals should be regarded as heroes, not treated like criminals.

We have also passed Senate Bill 522, known as Amy's Law. As many of you may recall, Amy Yates was just days away from her ninth birthday when she disappeared in April of 2004. Hours after a Levi's Call was put out, the little girl with long hair and an infectious smile was found murdered in the trailer park where she lived in Carrollton. Her death stunned the entire community - but they and the rest of the state were even more shocked and appalled to learn that the little girl had been murdered by another child. Under Senate Bill 522, children age 12 and under who commit murder, can be locked up until age 21. Amy's Law is limited to murder cases, and does not affect other serious crimes perpetrated by juveniles such as rape or armed robbery. The legislation passed the Senate with unanimous support, and now goes to the House of Representatives for debate.

We have many more issues ahead of us and as always, your concerns are my concerns. Until next week...

Sen. Jim Whitehead, Sr. represents the 24th Senate District, which includes all or parts of Columbia, Elbert, Glascock, Lincoln, McDuffie, Warren and Wilkes Counties. He can be reached at 404.656.5114.