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In the past 6 months or so, a considerable number of GOP controlled state legislatures have passed or attempted to pass legislation to shame and humiliate women who want to get an abortion by way of REQUIRING them to have a vaginal ultrasound (which requires a device to be inserted in the vagina) among other restrictions (such as having to hear a verbal description of the fetus or hear the heartbeat, etc.)
Some of these bills do NOT include an exception for rape or incest.
Here's how the state by state breakdown works out:
Texas: Ultrasound law was passed, then challenged in court. Judge ruled in favor of Texas. Women wanting an abortion must now get vaginal ultrasound in Texas.
Pennsylvania, Idaho, Alabama, Illinois are all in the process of developing similar legislation, as are Florida, North Carolina, Arizona and Kansas.
Virginia had attempted to pass a similar bill, but after a ton of backlash from women, including a large silent protest held outside the state legislature, the bill was modified to remove the required ultrasound. It's still highly restrictive however.
Mississippi has a bill (due to come into effect on July 1 of this year) that, while it would not specifically require a vaginal ultrasound, DOES require a pre-abortion ultrasound to be done under the condition that the resulting image "must be of a quality consistent with standard medical practice in the community."
Since most abortions happen early on in a pregnancy, that means the majority of ultrasounds will be done during this phase. The best way to do an ultrasound early on in pregnancy is vaginally.
I consider myself pro-life, BUT I believe that ultimately a woman has the right to decide what to do with her body. I say that as a Christian and I say that God gave us free will so we could choose how we want to live, regardless of how He may feel about a particular lifestyle. I do not hate/dislike or consider inferior any class of people anywhere in the world.
I do have two major issues with the ultrasound bills though:
1) We have more pressing economic and social issues at the state and federal level. Is it really necessary to spend all this time and effort to try and roll back women's rights?
2) I don't think it is fair for anyone to try and FORCE their beliefs or morality on another, which is what I believe these bills are doing. The Bible does teach believers to spread the gospel and teach about Jesus, but there's a huge difference between teaching about Jesus and trying shove Christianity down someones throat by trying to restrict their behavior so it falls in line with certain moral and philosophical views.
If I put a gun to someone's head and tell them to accept Jesus or I will pull the trigger and they say they accept Jesus, that accomplishes ABSOLUTELY nothing for me or the person I'm threatening. In fact, it's ridiculously counterproductive and goes against many teachings of Christ.
These bills are inappropriate, end of story.
Some of these bills do NOT include an exception for rape or incest.
Here's how the state by state breakdown works out:
Texas: Ultrasound law was passed, then challenged in court. Judge ruled in favor of Texas. Women wanting an abortion must now get vaginal ultrasound in Texas.
Pennsylvania, Idaho, Alabama, Illinois are all in the process of developing similar legislation, as are Florida, North Carolina, Arizona and Kansas.
Virginia had attempted to pass a similar bill, but after a ton of backlash from women, including a large silent protest held outside the state legislature, the bill was modified to remove the required ultrasound. It's still highly restrictive however.
Mississippi has a bill (due to come into effect on July 1 of this year) that, while it would not specifically require a vaginal ultrasound, DOES require a pre-abortion ultrasound to be done under the condition that the resulting image "must be of a quality consistent with standard medical practice in the community."
Since most abortions happen early on in a pregnancy, that means the majority of ultrasounds will be done during this phase. The best way to do an ultrasound early on in pregnancy is vaginally.
I consider myself pro-life, BUT I believe that ultimately a woman has the right to decide what to do with her body. I say that as a Christian and I say that God gave us free will so we could choose how we want to live, regardless of how He may feel about a particular lifestyle. I do not hate/dislike or consider inferior any class of people anywhere in the world.
I do have two major issues with the ultrasound bills though:
1) We have more pressing economic and social issues at the state and federal level. Is it really necessary to spend all this time and effort to try and roll back women's rights?
2) I don't think it is fair for anyone to try and FORCE their beliefs or morality on another, which is what I believe these bills are doing. The Bible does teach believers to spread the gospel and teach about Jesus, but there's a huge difference between teaching about Jesus and trying shove Christianity down someones throat by trying to restrict their behavior so it falls in line with certain moral and philosophical views.
If I put a gun to someone's head and tell them to accept Jesus or I will pull the trigger and they say they accept Jesus, that accomplishes ABSOLUTELY nothing for me or the person I'm threatening. In fact, it's ridiculously counterproductive and goes against many teachings of Christ.
These bills are inappropriate, end of story.
, plus he said hearing JFK's speech on the "wall of separation between church and state" makes him want to vomit.
Nice.
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