Arizona bans abortions based on race and gender of fetus
By Jeff MillsMarch 30th, 2011, 10:00 amComments (13)
Arizona has become the first state in the nation to ban abortions based on the race or gender of the fetus, as Republican Governor Jan Brewer signed the anti-eugenicist HB 2443 into law on Tuesday. Brewer has signed every other abortion restriction sent to her, so this comes as no surprise, and solidifies her reputation as the anti-Janet Napolitano.
Under the slippery-slope legislation, doctors and other medical professionals could face up to seven years in prison and loss of their medical license if they're found to be collaborating in the termination of less-than-desirable offspring. This adds yet another wrinkle to an already-controversial subject, with proponents of the law touting its anti-discriminatory component, while opponents see it as more biological meddling.
Brian Howard, CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona, said "This law creates a highly unusual requirement that women state publicly their reason for choosing to terminate a pregnancy — a private decision they already made with their physician, partner and family." These political roadblocks are getting ridiculous. You either have reproductive rights or you don't.
Commentarium (13 Comments)
So, I don't know about the situation in Arizona specifically, but in general I fully agree with these laws. When you have 100 million baby girls aborted worldwide, you're really looking at an awful, awful situation that is worse for women than simply having to verify you're not getting an abortion due to the gender or race of your child.
But while that is true in other parts of the world (India, China), America does not have a problem with gender specific abortions, and if anything, Americans when polled show a preference for daughters. But again, gender specific abortions are a nonissue in America. While I agree with the face value of this bill, you have to look at it in it's context.
It does exist in America. Not universally, but there have been areas that have deviated from the 108 margin of 'natural gender discrepancy' by a significant margin.
Definitively because of abortions or in general?
Patently violates the Constitution. It'll get struck down. Next.
I'm sure that when a women goes to the abortion clinic she's totally thinking I want to kill this little cock sucker because he's a boy, or I just don't like what race my child will turn out to be . Yeah, that totally makes sence, I don't know how I never saw this before.
When Nixon first heard about Roe v. Wade, white house tapes show that his first reaction was something like: "Well, that makes sense for interracial babies, but all babies?"
I'm pretty sure this is addressing a situation that just about never happens. Plus....how you gonna prove the doctor did it for such reasons?
arizona is the new florida
They do realize that by putting this into effect (while I'm sure it will be struck down for being unconstitutional), they're just ensuring that no one will use that particular reasoning when asked why they want an abortion...Not to mention, why does the reason matter?
This is another in a long string of symbolic laws that Brewer signs into effect that are struck down by the courts. This bill is designed to make headlines (which deepens Brewer's support from the ultra-right base), get discussed ad nauseam on talk shows (which deepens Brewer's support from the ultra-right base), and wind up in court to be struck down by a judge (which deepens Brewer's support from the ultra-right base), creating the scenario whereby Brewer can paint herself as the person who struggles against injustice no matter what the odds (which potentially raises her national profile). As just the tip of the iceberg of what's flawed with this bill, you'd effectively have to eliminate doctor/patient confidentiality in order to enforce it.
You know what, I'm very much inicelnd to agree.
Hooksexup, you've gone overboard. Reading the article, the law does not require women to state their reason for having an abortion, publicly or otherwise. Still, Arizona could do much more to fight racism.
Now you say something