Every morning, I do at least a quick scan of LEGIS for any new bills introduced, and I read the ones that happen to catch my eye for any given reason.
This morning there were a couple that caught my eye, though only one of them is the subject of this post.
The bill in question goes by a fairly innocent name – the “Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act” -and is introduced by a “Constitutionalist” – Barry Loudermilk -that clearly can’t read the Constitution.
This bill criminalizes “intent” to perform an abortion if the “intent” is in any way based on race, color, or sex of the fetus and makes performing an abortion with this “intent” a felony.
What Rep Loudermilk doesn’t seem to understand is that abortion providers are businessmen who make business decisions. If a customer comes to them and asks them to perform a service they offer, why should they refuse this customer? If you refuse too many customers, guess what happens to your business – it no longer exists. Oh wait… that is EXACTLY what Rep Loudermilk is trying to do – force people to close their business! In this economy! Shouldn’t he be working to HELP businesses by REMOVING government regulations, rather than hurting them by adding even more?
Also note that “intent” is the keyword in the vast majority of “hate” crime legislation that Republicans typically (rightfully) denounce due to its unprovable and unconstitutional nature… yet this “Constitutionalist” Republican is now introducing a bill that is tantamount to hate crime legislation?
Furthermore, this bill provides legal (civil) penalty for “homicide of an unborn child”. Does this include a potential father who disagreed with the mother’s choice of abortion? After all, under current law only one half of the people responsible for the creation of the child has the right to determine whether that child lives or dies prior to birth.
But this whole discussion misses one very crucial point: Please show me where abortion is discussed in the text of the US Constitution. It isn’t. But there are TWO other clauses that specifically say that rights and powers not enumerated within the Constitution remain with the People – the 9th Amendment, and the favorite of the “States Rights” crowd, the 10th Amendment.
Abortion, like religion, is a subject government should have absolutely no say in whatsoever, either for or against. It is among the most personal decisions any person and couple can ever make, and government should not dictate in any way what choice a person and couple makes in this regard.
Barry Loudermilk doesn’t seem to get that.
I can see why many get upset about abortion, and I can see why some get upset about Dr. assisted suicide.
The bible thumpers interpret the bible to say both are wrong according to the bible, however Just because the Bible says so doesn’t give you the right to force your interpretations onto everyone else.
Both decisions are made by grown adults in their right mind. To be honest in today’s litigation happy legal system an abortion has far fewer thing to come back and haunt you in the future vs. adoption.
It is however the bible thumper Right to protest, put PSA’s on TV and educate against abortion any way they can. To change peoples minds with laws just isn’t American!
If you believe that an unborn baby is a person, you approach this issue in the way you approach the murder of a born person. That goes to the protection of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in the Constitution.
I’m sorry, but the right to a life is fundamental. Without life, you don’t have any chance to exercise your other rights. If someone is aborting a baby solely because they wanted a girl and are carrying a boy, then that is a truly egregious offense. If we can’t protect the innocent among us, that is sad indeed.
Having given birth to three children, I can tell you that the moment I knew I was expecting, protecting those lives was my mission. If I had believed that those little ones were just blobs of tissue, it wouldn’t have changed the fact that they were growing into human children.
You can’t get rid of gravity just by believing it doesn’t exist, just like you can’t make it not a baby by simply believing it isn’t a baby.
One other question I just have to ask. When a woman goes to have an abortion, does she do so because she had a “tumor” or a “growth” that she wants to get rid of? No. The reasons vary, but all involve the word “baby.” “I don’t want a baby.” “I can’t pursue my career or graduate from school if I have a baby.” “I can’t afford a baby.” If there is an admission that the reason for an abortion is because that woman for one reason or another doesn’t want to have a baby in 9 months, then there is an admission that the “blob of tissue” will in time become a person.
When I had my third child, I had an ultrasound at 7 weeks gestation. This baby already had a head, arms, legs, a spine, and most importantly, a beating heart. I saw it with my own eyes. My doctor told me that 92% of the time that a beating heart is found in an early ultrasound, the outcome is favorable. If this “blob of tissue” already has a beating heart, it is reasonable to say that it already is a life; therefore, it is worth protecting, whether it is wanted or not.
By the way…I am pro-choice in this way: you can choose whether or not to engage in the act that leads to pregnancy, and if you choose to do so, you should use birth control if you don’t want a baby. This goes back to personal responsibility and owning up to your mistakes.
At conception:
Q. Is it live or dead?
A. Live.
Q. What species?
A. Human.
Q. Does a mother have the right to terminate the life of her human child?
A. Check one: ( )Yes ( )No.
What’s so difficult to comprehend? Is it a mother’s personal right to kill a two year old child because of economic circumstance; health; or regret? Why a different standard for a younger child? Taking human life has become too casual. Too convenient.
A personal freedom of choice does not extend to taking an innocent life without extreme exception.
That’s my two cents.
You guys completely amaze me! Cut taxes, cut spending, but force women to have unhealthy babies babies they can’t afford, did you forget about pregnancy? maybe mom knows she won’t quit drugs, is the State to raise these children until they or 18 or die from terrible medical conditions.
I grew up hearing my parents say, “We brought you into this world, we can take you out of it!”
As harsh as it may sound parents of a child are just that. Most peoples reasons to be anti abortion are religious in nature, who the hell are you to judge me through Government. I thought we wanted a separation of church and state… or is that only when it suits us?
“That goes to the protection of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in the Constitution.”
Dude you need to study up, that was the Declaration of Independence!
Tim,
Talk about being amazed wow. What an idiot argument. Let’s pretend your “we can take you out of it” statement is okay but the parents don’t decide until the kid is a rebellious teenager that it’s time for action. Your uh “logic” seems to suggest the parents can just off the kid no harm no foul?????
It isn’t murder! Some folks are trying to pitch it that way because they feel their Bible tells them it is wrong and that the Govenrment should step in.
My point was those same people would hate to have all of the bible laws put on them by government, they pick and chose as they see fit and it doesn’t effect them.
My parents decided long before I was a rebellious teenager, well in fact due to the way I was brought up I was NEVER rebellious, kinda strange how that works.???
Imagine if the Government collected 10% of your wages BEFORE TAXES and donated it to the church of your choice.. good idea sure..but not governments place, as is with abortion.
Under that reasoning, then euthanasia of the elderly is fine if they become too much of a financial burden on the fam? Why not just euthanize the drug addict mom? Or just kill any kid in a state orphanage? What about real sick folks in general who are using up bedspace and equipment. They need to go? Actually, if we just remove homicides from the criminal code, we will have a real separation of church and state.
There is no bright line on medical situations. Everyone has to make the best judgment call, they can make. That’s also true in situations other than abortion. But when the motive is to avoid responsibility, financial inadequacies, or social discomfort – you can’t just kill your way out of it.
I’m all for cutting taxes and cutting spending. I’m all for not catering to deadbeats. But you can’t just kill kids for expediency.
It’s a contentious issue which is difficult to discuss without a degradation into anger. I don’t think any less of you for disagreeing with me. I hope you feel the same.
I’m not angry about it at all.
You’ll need to search ENTP as I have a unique ability to easily separate my beliefs and feeling from the actual argument.
I believe that certain laws need to be in place. I believe that Abortion is a choice society shouldn’t be able to make for someone, I also believe that euthanasia of the elderly is a choice for that individual to make.
I have known many women who have had abortions, some are fine, some are haunted by it. God works in mysterious ways.
If you have a feeling of anger towards those who believe abortion is OK, maybe you need to dig into that bible and see what it says about judgment, perhaps you need to work harder on going out and winning more souls for Christ. But it is easier to try to change the law that to do the work God puts out for you to do in the Bible.
It is not for you to decide if a fetus is a life that is for God to judge in the end. Seriously a Christian woman wouldn’t go have an abortion, so why are the Christians upset that non-Christians are having abortions?
Do you see how the Bible tells you to approach the situation. Go watch “Footloose” this evening, maybe it will sink in that man always has an easier way than God.
“By the way…I am pro-choice in this way: you can choose whether or not to engage in the act that leads to pregnancy, and if you choose to do so, you should use birth control if you don’t want a baby. This goes back to personal responsibility and owning up to your mistakes.”
From this comment here I can assume you aren’t a Christian. You probably came from a 2 parent household, lived a normal life and seeing things this way is wonderful.
You want to make decisions for people who are not like you! You want everyone to conform to your morals and values. Kinda Righteous on your part isn’t it?
What kill’s me is these “Christians use the “Artificial Birth Control” argument to back up their anti-abortion argument, so let’s ignore the part of the Bible we don’t agree with to make a law based on the part of the Bible we do agree with.
You are right, and I know the “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” is in the Declaration. Call it a mind fog, my coffee had not kicked in yet. However, both the Declaration and Constitution are founding documents, written by and large by the same group of men with the same ideas. To me, you can look to both for guidance, but I am sorry I mistyped that.
Explain how it is not killing a human to abort a fetus? I am upset that people kill fetuses just like I am upset that someone killed one of my relatives last year. Both a fetus and my relative are innocent victims. You can’t call a human being unworthy of life just because someone doesn’t want it.
Just because a person might be a crappy parent doesn’t mean the baby doesn’t deserve a chance to live. I bet you are glad your parents chose life for you. You say that God will judge in the end whether a fetus is a life and you are correct. By using your argument, we should stop prosecuting murderers because God will judge them in the end. Do you believe in justice? Where do you draw the line with that kind of thinking?
Common law can be boiled down to two statements: 1)Do all you have agreed to do. (The basis of contract law) and 2) Do not encroach on other persons and their property. I believe abortion to be an encroachment on the life of a human being, not the removal of excess tissue.
I got these two statements about common law from Libertarian Richard Maybury, author of the “Uncle Eric” series about economics, politics, and justice. He talks in “Whatever Happened to Justice” about abortion being one of the most important questions of our time. He brings up the fact that we are all bound to a higher law than ourselves, and that if we are bound only by the laws of men, those laws become arbitrary and we set ourselves up for a situation just like Nazi Germany. One thing he brings up as frightening is the idea of government being the highest authority, and how arbitrary that can become.
I have to say that if we as Americans cannot protect the lives of innocent pre-born babies, then we are in deep trouble as a nation.
You are completely wrong about me.
I am a Christian, but I come from a broken home. My parents divorced when I was a child, and my childhood was anything but happy.
Where I am coming from is this: if you want to mess up your life by screwing around with a person that isn’t your spouse, that’s fine, but please at least take responsibility for your actions. It isn’t the baby’s fault that you made a personal mistake, but you can make the best of it, grow up, and take care of business. We all make mistakes in life, we all sin, and we all have to live with the consequences of our actions. Why is it that this one mistake is one so many people want to try to erase as if it is no big deal?
My parents could have chosen to abort me. In fact, my mom was 2 months pregnant when they married, and I have recently been told that an aunt in the same situation at about the same time chose to abort her baby. I am glad that my parents chose life and tried to make things work by getting married. Even though things ultimately didn’t work out for them, there are good things that came out of it too…like my three siblings.
I feel that the majority of abortions are the ultimate act of selfishness. “I want my life my way and don’t want an unwanted baby to screw up my plans.” My dad had to forge a different path than he had planned when I came along, but it formed his character to work extra hard to overcome a mistake. We need more people to face their mistakes instead of having the abortion doctor flush them down the toilet. Again, it comes back to personal responsibility.
“By using your argument, we should stop prosecuting murderers because God will judge them in the end. Do you believe in justice? Where do you draw the line with that kind of thinking?”
There is a line. Adam and Eve didn’t have “Life” until they walked the earth. That right there should give us a clue. (let that sink in a bit)
Mary had free will, she chose not to abort Jesus, but God let her decide .. didn’t he?
We are in deep trouble as a nation because of GREED. Interesting point you try to tie abortion to Nazi Germany, but you are trying to use the laws of men to do the work of God
“I am a Christian, but I come from a broken home. My parents divorced when I was a child, and my childhood was anything but happy.”
Genesis 1:27-28
Psalm 127:3-5
1 Chronicles 25:4-5
1 Chronicles 26:4-5
Hosea 9:10-17
Exodus 23:25-26
Deuteronomy 7:13-14
Do some studying then and come back to me with a Christian view on artificial birth control!
Trust me as unhappy as your child hood was it can’t touch the rock bottom of others.
So you feel that everything YOU believe in is right and a LAW should be enacted to make sure everyone has to follow YOUR beliefs? If you are still calling yourself a Christian at this point you need to pull out a Bible and see just how Christlike your walk through life is!
I will play your little game and read through the Scriptures, but as you appear to be a very angry person who thinks some lives are not worth living, I feel it would be pointless to argue with you further.
I know what I believe, and I will believe till my dying day that abortion is the taking of an innocent life. I am thankful every day that my parents chose the harder path that gave me life. I wish you well in your quest for truth.
ROTFLMAO – I am FAR from angry! In fact the issue itself doesn’t matter to me.
I have issue with people like yourself trying to use the law to make people moral. Consider that for a few minutes.
Taypayer:
We’re not saying you can’t believe whatever you want to believe. As I’ve said before, I personally agree with you – and I’m in a situation where adoption is the ONLY way I will ever have kids.
ALL we are saying is that you cannot create laws to enforce morality. You only end up with even more misery than you started out with.
Think about it this way: Did the Mosaic Law make man righteous? If it did, Christ died in vain!
If the religious Law given by God Himself didn’t make man righteous, how in the Sam Hades do you think a law passed by the Georgia General Assembly will?
Actually, I do not believe that everything I believe in should be made a law. I have oft stated on other topics that one of the problems with our legislature is that every good idea doesn’t need to be a law. But on the other side of the coin, is nothing worthy of being made into law? Does the fact that one of the ten commandments condemns killing disqualify it from becoming a necessary law? The commandments also prohibit stealing, so are theft laws imposing morals and judeo/christian principles on those who are uncomfortable with being accused of larceny?
Why would you inject Christianity into the argument? Both Christians and non-christians take positions on both sides of this issue. Your arguments presuppose that non-Christians cannot take a Pro-life stance. Because making pro-life arguments are “judgmental”, “bible-thumping Christian”, and “self righteous”. These come-back labels are just a convenient fall-back. As far as selective bible reading is concerned, I only recognize one post above in which scriptures are even mentioned. I specifically stated that I think no less of someone for disagreeing on this issue and accusations of being “judgmental” are slung anyways.
I stated earlier that the issue was contentious. It almost always degrades into name-calling. I’ve never seen one side convince the other. I’ll just figuratively shake hands with those on the other side of the fence and let it go. I do kindly invite someone else to have the last word.