More abortion legislation. Is it better to chip away?
At the same time a group of legislators are opposing Gordon Howie's effort to outlaw abortion except for rape, incest, and the health of the mother (an exception I'm told you could drive a truck through), several of the same people opposing it are proposing an abortion measure of their own.
Jay Duenwald and Brock Greenfield are among the sponsors of a measure designed to provide notice to those receiving services in abortion clinics that they can't be coerced into having one, and that if they feel that they were, they can seek a civil remedy:
It still remains to be seen whose approach is going to be viewed as the better tact to take. The Right to Life faction, led by Duenwald and Greenfield, or the crew being lead by Gordon Howie (and likely Leslee Unruh) who is expected to drop his abortion bill in sometime in the near future.
The two groups worked together this past election on "Yes on 6," but they seem to be parting ways over whether or not the time (or the voting electorate) is ripe for another attack. Some fear fatigue on the measure will drive down support for another run, but other led by Howie (who took a few hits in 2005 here and here and here for comparing pregnant women to cattle) seem to think that it's better to strike and say you wanted a measure with exceptions, so here it is).
A couple legislators are hedging their bets and can be expected to be named on both measures. But it's clear that the battle lines have been drawn.
Jay Duenwald and Brock Greenfield are among the sponsors of a measure designed to provide notice to those receiving services in abortion clinics that they can't be coerced into having one, and that if they feel that they were, they can seek a civil remedy:
Senate Bill 171 provides the language as written above.
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to require the posting of certain legal notices in abortion facilities and to provide for enforcement through civil suit and the imposition of liquidated damages.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
Any facility in which abortions are performed that is a private office or freestanding surgical outpatient clinic shall post the following legal notice in each patient waiting room and patient consultation room used by patients on whom abortions are performed. Any hospital or any other facility in which abortions are performed that is not a private office or freestanding surgical outpatient clinic shall post the following legal notice in each patient admission area used by patients on whom abortions are performed. If requested by the patient, a copy of the notice and access to a telephone in a room that assures privacy shall also be provided.
The posted legal notice shall be printed legibly in boldface type of forty-four points or more:
"It is against the law for anyone, regardless of their relationship to you, to force or coerce
you to have an abortion. By law, we cannot perform an abortion on you unless we have your freely given voluntary consent. It is against the law to perform an abortion on you against your will."
Section 2. That chapter 34-23A be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
Any state resident who is aggrieved by the failure of anyone to comply with the provisions of section 1 of this Act may enforce the provisions of this Act by bringing a civil suit in any circuit court of competent jurisdiction. Upon a finding that a defendant has failed to comply with the provisions of section 1 of this Act, the court shall award the plaintiff one thousand dollars in liquidated damages plus the plaintiff's court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.
Section 3. The provisions of this Act are effective on October 1, 2007.
It still remains to be seen whose approach is going to be viewed as the better tact to take. The Right to Life faction, led by Duenwald and Greenfield, or the crew being lead by Gordon Howie (and likely Leslee Unruh) who is expected to drop his abortion bill in sometime in the near future.
The two groups worked together this past election on "Yes on 6," but they seem to be parting ways over whether or not the time (or the voting electorate) is ripe for another attack. Some fear fatigue on the measure will drive down support for another run, but other led by Howie (who took a few hits in 2005 here and here and here for comparing pregnant women to cattle) seem to think that it's better to strike and say you wanted a measure with exceptions, so here it is).
A couple legislators are hedging their bets and can be expected to be named on both measures. But it's clear that the battle lines have been drawn.
Comments
Is there any statute of limitations on this?
More ridiculous waste-of-time abortion legislation.
Oh well, women are just incubators anyway - right?
About time some member the legislature has the courage to draft a medical marijuana bill.
Maybe we could expect to see doctors and patients, and not law enforcement and Sec. of Health Doneen Hollingsworth (who has already demonstrated ZERO knowledge of this issue), testify as to the merits of such a bill.
That would be a great day for the South Dakota legislature.
(instead of making the prerequisite for the position be "power-grabbing bureaucrat from BFM")
If someone was lied to and coerced to not have an abortion based on incorrect information that was given to them while in a conflicted state by another person with the purpose of influencing their decision with lies. Should they be able to sue too? They were damaged by someone else's actions.
"Are you, really, really, really sure you want to do this you uncaring, unchristian, going to hell on the express train sorry excuse for a women."
Yeah, that sounds about right. Maybe we should make the father consent too?
Some women, who have been battered and fear their partners, opt for an abortion so that their partners cannot abuse the child too. Others opt for an abortion because they want to sever all ties with the batterer and a child would prevent that.
A woman in that situation is often terrified that the man might find out she is pregnant.
If the woman opted to carry the child to term and give it up, the man would have to sign off to have the child adopted, and a lot of guys would refuse to do that.
All of that is difficult to understand - or perhaps even to imagine - unless you have been in that position or worked with women in those situations. But that is the reality for some victims of domestic violence.
I agree with you that this can be a brutal world at times, but that brutality is only compounded when we resort to the taking of innocent life to solve our problems.