Indiana Shoots Down Rape/Incest Abortion Exceptions

[Derechos]

The Indiana House yesterday passed a bill, HB 1210, that would force women to carry pregnancies past 22 weeks to term, even if the father of the fetus is their rapist or family member. The only reason a woman could get an abortion after 22 weeks (and most medical experts don't consider a fetus viable until around 27 weeks) is if carrying the fetus to term would result in the woman's death or "substantial physical impairment." Even then, her doctor would be required by law to perform the abortion in a hospital with a prenatal unit, and in the way that "would result in the best opportunity for the fetus to survive."

The bill passed with overwhelming support, 72-23. State representative Gail Riecken, a Democrat, tried to amend the bill to include exceptions for rape or incest, but her amendment failed. Among the amendment's critics was Rep. Eric Turner (Republican), who wrote HB 1210. He argued that the amendment would provide a "loophole" to women who wanted abortions. They would, he suggested, lie about being raped. "I don't want to disparage in any way someone who's gone through the experience of a rape, or incest," Turner said,"but someone who is desirous of an abortion could simply say that they've been raped or there's incest."

Turner's statement was quickly followed up by Rep. Linda Lawson (D), who worked as a sex crime investigator for six years. After being instructed to "take a minute" to "collect herself," Lawson fiercely rebutted Turner's claims. "I don't think anybody in this room has ever sat where I sat... They don't make it up!"

Video of exchange and rest of article at link http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/03/indiana-shoots-down-rapeincest-abortion-exceptions#

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. The arrogance of right-wing men appalls me.

How dare they?

:mad:

[Tesha]

7. They dare because many women still spport them with their votes.

Why is that?

Tesha

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. Women support them because they have been brought up to do that.

The women feel inferior. Men carry the name forward; women don't. Men write history; historically, women don't although that is largely not true now. Men fight the wars and do the policing. Again, this is changing, but history is hard to overcome.

Women compete for men against other women. We don't pool our strengths. Just like Democrats.

Women have been raised to feel as though they are second-class citizens who need to be taken care of by men.

I'm sure there are more reasons, but this is what I think right now.

[roguevalley]

16. and when the little baby is born and kept going in an incubator

running up a two million dollar bill and faces developmental problems for the rest of their life, DELIVER IT TO THESE FUCKERS! Thank you.

[GrantDem]

2. Here's the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=R_xf383_QhU

[GrantDem]

3. Sorry, didn't see the video in the OP link.

[xxqqqzme]

4. Anyone in Indiana..

A few years ago, as we left the Indianapolis airport, there was a HUGE billboard that said "Welcome to Indiana, a Pro Life State". I was stunned. I didn't know if it was a greeting or a warning. Is the billboard still there?

[WhiteTara]

5. he needs to be raped so he can see if he wants

to talk about it so he can have another invasive event.

[corpseratemedia]

8. +1

[Tesha]

9. If you like science fiction, you might enjoy "The Fresco" by Sheri S. Tepper.

In it, she hypothesizes a world which is visited by
envoys from a more-advanced civilization. They would
like the Earth to join their galactic fraternity but
there are few areas where we need to make progress
first.

In order to help us make progress on women's rights,
the envoys arrange for some very outspoken male
pro-life Senators to be impregnated with a particu-
larly noxious alien larvae which will then gestate
within these lucky Senators. The envoys make it
very publicly clear that, naturally, being pro-
life, these Senators wouldn't dream of aborting the
implants and will want to carry the implants to term
and a full natural birth where the implants will
emerge by chewing their way out of the hosts'
abdomens with a considerable but not-unheard-of
(by women, at least) amount of pain.

The envoys also propose some interesting solutions
to our problems with guns, the Middle East, the
treatment of women by certain fundamentalist Muslim
societies, and a few other current vexations.

It's an interesting, insightful read.

Tesha

[WhiteTara]

11. Thanks Tesha

I like sci fi and Sheri Tepper. I'll check that out at my local library (we still have one!)

[Canuckistanian]

6. I'm simply astounded

That all this time, energy and valuable legislative capital is being spent on what a woman does with her own body.

[Ezlivin]

10. Women won't get raped if they dress properly

And incest doesn't happen in good Christian families.

:eyes:

[HockeyMom]

12. My friend was raped at 11 years old

coming home from school in her catholic girls school uniform. She put up a major fight against her 6 foot adult rapist. Yes, she had gone through puberty and was very fortunate to not become pregnant. The police in NYC did take her to a hospital right after and she was given the "Morning After" pill even back in the 60s. Yes, even with CATHOLIC PARENTS who didn't want their CHILD to get pregnant from a rapist.

My friend did have to go through years and years of couneling before she could let any man, including her Dad, touch her.

Sick, sick, SICK that these people would force a CHILD like my friend to bear a rapist's baby. She couldn't handle the rape, let alone being forced to become a mother at the age of 11.

[Solly Mack]

13. I can't type what I want to type....but I'm thinking it.

[OverBurn]

15. I'm Ashamed To Say I live In Indiana

Fuck all you right wing Indy assholes.