After a much needed evening off from research, I'm back on the trail of Restrictive laws against Women in the U.S. Today's blog will be about Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
Let's start with Mississippi.
http://www.womensviewsonnews.org/2012/04/new-law-in-mississippi-targets-the-states-only-abortion-clinic/
http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/17/politics/mississippi-abortion/index.html
http://politicsandpolicy.org/article/womens-issues-back-spotlight
http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/Blog/abortion-issue-in-mississippi/
Now, Mississippi has had restrictive laws in place about abortion for some time, but it's recently been changed to add more restrictions and possibly end all abortions in the state. Why would it end all abortions? Because it now states that doctors can only perform abortions if they have admitting privileges at a local hospital. At Mississippi’s sole abortion clinic, the Jackson Women’s Health Organisation, only one of the three practicing doctors has admitting privileges at the area hospital.
And last year they tried to introduce the "Personhood Amendment", but were shot down, thank goodness. And it's no secret that Governor Bryant wants to make Mississippi the first completely Abortion-free state. I'm sure the GOP would love that, as it would give them a better chance at getting that through the door in other states as well.
The most informative site I found for Mississippi was:
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/mississippi.html
And the most interesting was:
http://books.google.ca/books?id=EDd2aNCoGlYC&pg=PA253&lpg=PA253&dq=Mississippi+Laws+that+restrict+women&source=bl&ots=tyoTUMhe5W&sig=RWnG0XsOg3bUrgcjsa6EEmNMIjg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hu-VT8ynFIig6QHAg-GbDg&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Mississippi%20Laws%20that%20restrict%20women&f=false
(Yes, that one's a little long, lol, but full of information!)
Next up is Alabama.
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/04/22/alabamas-new-abortion-bill-misreported-by-ap
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/02/27/432790/alabama-ultrasound-abortion-bill/http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/02/28/alabama-backs-down-on-trans-vaginal-ultrasound-but-anti-abortion-laws-elsewhere-persist/
Okay. So, Alabama has boarded the abortion train too. The links are about the abortion laws. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley ( a Republican, of course) believes that life begins at conception, and like most Republicans, has decided that everyone needs to go along with his beliefs. Back in June 2011, a bill was passed that outlawed abortions after 20 weeks gestation. The bill was based on the belief that after 20 weeks a fetus can feel pain. Fair enough, I'm no doctor, so I can't dispute it. But now, they are trying to make it earlier than that. But at least they now are writing a bill saying that women don't HAVE to have the invasive ultrasound procedure before having an abortion. They must have been feeling generous.
Alabama is not the most restrictive state in the U.S., but like most states these days, they are well on their way.
The most helpful site I found:
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/state-governments/state-profiles/alabama.html
And the last one for today, Georgia.
http://law.findlaw.com/state-laws/abortion/georgia/
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/HB/954
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/local/senators-expected-pass-new-abortion-law/nLc9m/
http://jurist.org/paperchase/2012/03/georgia-senate-eases-restrictions-in-abortion-bill.php
http://thedailycougar.com/2012/04/03/georgia-passes-fetal-pain-abortion-bill/
http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2012/03/31/at-11th-hour-georgia-passes-women-as-livestock-bill/
Georgia's law now states that abortions after 20 weeks gestation is illegal. Even in cases of rape and incest. Republican State Rep Doug McKillip says that he had a revelation after having children and starting to read the Bible. So he went from being a pro-choice Democrat to an Anti-Woman Republican. They've loosed the restrictions somewhat, allowing for abortions if a doctor finds that the baby would not survive outside the uterus. Now. If Roe Versus Wade is EVER overturned, let me tell you..the laws will get stricter. - To the point where you might be forced to continue to carry a child, regardless if they might be dying in your uterus, whereby allowing the fetus to suffer. - Wait...isn't that what they're all screaming about? The fetus being in pain?
Interestingly, in this article,
http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2012/03/20/the-fanaticism-behind-ga-s-pending-abortion-law/,
several obstetricians provided scientific evidence that a fetus does not begin to feel pain until the 28th week. Yet McKillip dismissed them, while intimating that the medical EXPERTS were liars. Let me guess..he's been reading his Bible again?
Then there's Rep Terry England. He's the guy who compared women to livestock, stating that if a cow or a pig could carry a dead baby to term, then women surely could too. You think this is the worst part? Not even CLOSE. I hope you're sitting down.
This bill also excludes a woman’s “emotional or mental condition.” Basically, women suffering from mental illness would be forced to carry a pregnancy to term. Suicidal women and and women who cause harm on themselves because of their unwanted pregnancy would also be forced.
Now, after all that heavy stuff, I have included one link just to let you know that there ARE people there that are trying to fight back for us:
http://www.eurweb.com/2012/02/georgia-rep-fights-abortion-bills-with-anti-vasectomy-act-video/
I love this one. Georgia Rep Yasmin Neal and some other democrats introduced the "Anti-Vasectomy Act" in direct retaliation to the restrictive laws that were being placed on women. I encourage you to watch the video, as it's great!
Additional link I found helpful:
http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/abortion-laws.aspx
Now, my final thought for the evening: From my point of view, I see all these restrictive laws coming for a reason. The GOP wants to restrict abortion enough in every state so that it then becomes easier to overturn Roe versus Wade. And if that happens, we're in for a bigger fight than ever.
I can't stress this enough: Get informed..not just with what's happening in your state, but in every state. And VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! We're gaining momentum and attention in our fight against the War on Women, but we can't sit back and watch..there's still so much to be done.
And so, my friends, as I keep saying, you inspire me, you teach me, you make me want to be a better person.
Please feel free to comment. All questions, suggestions, comments, corrections are welcome! Because, to be informed, you must have all the information. Please be respectful in your comments. Debate is great, but trolls and violence will be dealt with swiftly.
With the greatest Respect,
An Ordinary Woman
April 23, 2012
*this letter can be shared, however I do not authorize any alterations.
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