By Steven Jonas
The Legislature of the (U.S.[!]) State of Georgia recently passed, and the Governor signed into law, a bill that criminalizes abortion in the state, as well as making a felon out of any Georgia woman who travelled outside of the state to obtain an abortion. [The text below summarizing the main provisions of the law is adapted from the article referenced just above.]
Among other things, the law:
* subjects women who get illegal abortions to life imprisonment and the death penalty;
* declares that 'unborn children' [sic, emphasis added] are a class of living, distinct persons that deserves "full legal recognition;"
* thus recognizes "unborn children as natural persons" as a legal rule;
* declares that fetuses "shall be included in population-based determinations;"
* criminalizes women who seek out unlawful abortions or terminate their own pregnancies (by, for example, using the drug Misoprostol) for once it takes effect, a woman who self-terminates will have, as a matter of law, killed a human thereby committing murder --- the penalty for that crime in Georgia is life imprisonment or capital punishment;
* provides that a woman who seeks out an illegal abortion from a health care provider would be a party to murder, subject to life in prison, and a woman who miscarries because of her own conduct, say, using drugs while pregnant would be liable for second-degree murder, punishable by 10 to 30 years' imprisonment;
* provides that if a Georgia resident plans to travel elsewhere to obtain an abortion, she may be charged with conspiracy to commit murder, punishable by 10 years' imprisonment; an individual who helps a woman plan her trip to get an out-of-state abortion, or transports her to the clinic, may also be charged with conspiracy; These individuals, after all, are "conspiring" to end of the life of a "person" with "full legal recognition" under Georgia law.
Yes, folks, for those who have said "it can't happen here," IT IS.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS LAW IS ENTIRELY BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF THE "UNBORN CHILD," WHICH IS A TOTALLY RELIGIOUS ONE, BASED ON A PARTICULAR RELIGIOUS CONCEPT OF "WHEN LIFE BEGINS." FOR BELIEVING CATHOLICS IT IS BASED ON A DICTUM HANDED DOWN BY POPE PIUS IX IN 1869. FOR MOST BELIEVING PROTESTANTS, IT IS BASED ON THEIR INTERPRETATION OF CERTAIN PASSAGES IN THE "KING JAMES" VERSION OF THE BIBLE. BOTH RELIGION-BASED DOCTRINES SHARE THE RELIGIOUS, NOT BIOLOGICAL, NOTION THAT "LIFE BEGINS AT THE MOMENT OF CONCEPTION." IT HAPPENS THAT THERE ARE MANY RELIGIOUS PERSONS, AS WELL AS OF COURSE MANY NON-RELIGIOUS PERSONS, WHO HAVE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING OF "WHEN LIFE BEGINS."
Indeed, when Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama signed a bill into law similar to the one enacted in Georgia, she had this to say about it: "Today, I signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act, a bill that was approved by overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Legislature. To the bill's many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians' deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God" (Click here).
Except, Gov., a) not every person who believes in God agrees the "every life is a sacred gift from God," and b) many persons --- an increasing number as it happens --- don't believe in God at all. In fact, the number of “nones” is increasing rapidly (www.osvnews.com/2019/04/16/new-survey-nones-continue-to-rise). As the cited article says: “According to an analysis of the Global Social Survey, released in March, the number of Americans now identifying as having ‘no religion’ is equivalent to those who identify as Catholic or evangelical (approximately 23% for each of the three).”
The Alabama and Georgia laws stand at the height of religious authoritarianism and absolutely violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. And whether governors like Ivey, of Alabama, like it or not, the 14th Amendment, adopted in the wake of the Civil War, applies the liberties guaranteed by the first ten amendments to the states.
Click here for the full article.
Source: OpEdNews.com
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