Once again, the MSM distorts the truth regarding the new legislation passed today by the House. The headlines read that it “restricts†or “limits†abortion rights. Believe it or not, the New York Times headline is the most accurate: “House Passes Bill Tightening Parental Rule for Abortions.â€
This legislation does not break any new ground in the abortion battle. It essentially reinforces those that already exist. It adds an extra layer of legal enforcement for those attempting to circumvent these laws. Yet, it’s being billed as a “victory for abortion opponents†and another coup against abortion by the Bush administration.
That’s how the MSM is trying to sell this bill. Hopefully, the general public sees through their ploy and doesn’t buy it.
The bill, intended to prevent minor girls from going to different states to circumvent more restrictive laws in their home states, applies to adults who accompany girls 17 and under. It also, for the first time, requires doctors who perform abortions on under-age girls to comply with state notification laws, and in some cases to notify the girl’s parents in person. Violators could face a $100,000 fine and a year in jail.
The bill also imposes a 24-hour waiting period for young women who travel to another state for an abortion, in some cases even if they are accompanied by their parents.
— By Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times
Now, I’m not an attorney – but it’s my understanding that it is already a federal crime for an adult to transport any minor across state lines without the consent of the legal guardian. That is, after all, the law that allows the FBI to become involved in many kidnappings. It would actually be much more punitive to charge these adults with the crime of kidnapping. One might say the Federal government is doing these offenders a favor.
It seems the pro-abortion people — and they hate to be called that — believe a “girl’s (we’re not talking about a woman here) right to choose†supersedes any parental rights. Of course, there are rare circumstances where parental notification could actually be dangerous for the minor. This law allows for those circumstances, although no MSM outlet will report the details. It allows for an abortion in the case that the girl’s life is threatened by the pregnancy. It also allows for the abortion if she is the victim of sexual abuse, neglect, or physical abuse by a parent. In this case, the authorities will investigate the crime.
The bill also punishes doctors whom knowingly break the law and perform abortions on these girls. It is about time the doctors must comply and respect parental rights, as well as the law. Abortion is the only medical area where providers can run roughshod over parental rights. A nurse can’t even give an aspirin to a minor without permission from the parents – and, yet, we allow doctors to perform an invasive medical procedure without their consent or knowledge.
More than 30 states have enacted parental notification laws for abortions. I say it’s high time we reflect the will of the people and stop the pro-abortion contingency from circumventing the system. The time has also come to hold the doctors responsible for complying with the law. Abortion is big business for those that perform the “service.” Don’t for a minute believe they chose their profession out of an altruistic need to support a “woman’s right to chose.”
You can read the actual bill here.