This list is repugnant to the constitutional spirit of our republic:
* Unconditional abortion at any state of development with no consideration of the rights and/or viability of the fetus
* State-sponsored “bounty hunting” those (including physicians) who assist in abortion procurement or in an abortion procedure
* Total ban on abortion, with no exceptions based on rape, incest or health of the mother
* Prosecuting a physician for performing a medically-determined abortion
* Prosecuting people who help others procure an abortion, including buying them a ticket or transporting them out of state
* Prosecuting women for having an abortion
* Prosecuting women for traveling out of state for an abortion
* A state prosecuting people residents of other states for abortion-related actions taken in another state
* Prohibiting people from receiving birth control and medical abortifacients via US Mail
* Prosecuting a woman for ingesting an abortifacient and causing an abortion in her own home
My objection is rooted not in morality, but in historical western jurisprudence, natural rights and our constitution. We are a constitutional republic, not a Christian theocracy, and the question of abortion needs to be addressed in the light of historical laws, common law and a balancing of the rights of the mother and child, to include the fact that medical science has pushed back the viability of a fetus to 20-25 weeks.
Safe, Legal, and Rare
Go yahoogle polling on abortion. A broad spectrum of Americans are willing to accept first trimester abortions as well as third trimester bans, with exceptions for rape, incest and health of the mother.
Such a law would flare up the anger on the fringes, but would represent a consensus that polling suggests the nation could settle into. Such a law would also look like the laws of most advanced European nations.
If the GOP were smart (and they are not), they would loudly kibosh all speculation about banning birth control, rolling back gay marriage, gay rights and sodomy laws, etc. Democrats have dramatically seized the high ground on the issue of liberty, just as it looked as if the GOP had permanent possession of that champion’s trophy.
Legal is not necessarily Moral
I think abortion is morally repugnant, as expressed by first century Christians in the Didache. Other religions, including Judaism, while not cavalier on the issue, do not take such a narrow view. The law must reflect the will of the people and must not impose narrow religious views on everyone. Otherwise, it is imperial diktat, and in a democracy, the people will end up ousting the tyrants.
Forcing over-interpreted mandates on people will only harden hearts and minds, not change them.
If we want to end abortion, we need to change those hearts and minds through scientific reasoning and moral persuasion, and for heaven’s sake, can we approach this debate with some humility, charity and compassion?
