Interstate abortion bill nears passage

Ron Burgundy · 07-25-2006, 06:45 PM

Interstate abortion bill nears passage (AP)

AP - Taking a teenager across state lines to get an abortion without a parent's knowledge would become a crime punishable by prison under a bill that headed toward Senate passage Tuesday.

Interstate abortion bill nears passage

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 33 minutes ago

A bill to make it a crime to transport a pregnant girl over state lines to get an abortion without her parents' knowledge was heading toward Senate passage Tuesday.

The Senate began voting on an amendment that would prevent fathers who had impregnated their daughters from transporting them over state lines for an abortion and from suing anyone who tried to help the girl have the procedure.

A final vote was expected within an hour.

The bill would punish, with fines and up to a year in jail, anyone who helps a pregnant girl get an abortion in another state to get around parental notification or consent laws. The girl and her parents would be protected from prosecution, as would anyone helping a girl end a pregnancy that posed a threat to her life.

JaJae · 07-25-2006, 08:12 PM

We haven't had a good abortion debate on this forum... I guess this can be the start of one.

This isn't to debate the morality of abortion itself, but whether it should be legal or not to take a child across state lines to receive an abortion and not tell the parents. How about within state lines?

Personally I'm in full support of this bill. I am pro-choice, but I do believe parents should know about the abortions for minors at all times. Parents deserve the right to know whether their children receive medical treatment for sexual activity.

Ardentfrost · 07-25-2006, 08:25 PM

The harder it is for women to get abortions, the more frequent unsafe abortions will become. I'd rather the parents of the pregnant girl not know than her shoving a coat hanger "up there" in a truck stop bathroom

My personal conviction is pro-life, but I am pro-liberty publically... hence, I cannot support any bill that infringes on someone's ability to do what they want with their own body.

JaJae · 07-25-2006, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

The harder it is for women to get abortions, the more frequent unsafe abortions will become. I'd rather the parents of the pregnant girl not know than her shoving a coat hanger "up there" in a truck stop bathroom

My personal conviction is pro-life, but I am pro-liberty publically... hence, I cannot support any bill that infringes on someone's ability to do what they want with their own body.

It's still legal for her to do whatever she wants with her own body. But if she wants to get something done to her body by a doctor or professional her parents have the right to know in my opinion.

We live in a world where a girl can't get her ears peirced, yet can undergo surgery without their parents' consent. I don't get it.

JaJae · 07-25-2006, 08:31 PM

I agree though anything that makes abortions more difficult just means more coat hangers and I'm strongly against that. But at what point do we draw the line in not informing parents of their children's medical records?

Ardentfrost · 07-25-2006, 08:35 PM

A teenage girl who gets pregnant is going to be under a lot of stress. I don't think a doctor should just say "what? you want an abortion? sure thing! let's do this!" but I also don't think every situation should force the girl to tell her parents necessarily.

I just put myself in their shoes... or try to. Even though I'm a dude, when I was a teenager, had I gotten a chick pregnant I would have felt my life was over. I'm sure teenage girls go through the same thing. Why add to the stress by telling them (if they want an abortion) that they HAVE to tell their parents and get their approval, no matter what? At least if they think they'll be able to get one without approval, they'll be more likely to go to a doctor. What happens from there is then between the doctor and the girl, but I would expect him to try to tell her the risks of having an abortion, alternatives to abortion, and why she SHOULD tell her parents, though the decision is ultimately up to her.

IminWonderland · 07-25-2006, 08:37 PM

Well, it's not a law that she has to inform her parents. But, for the most part, it's already illegal to take a child across state lines...So I kinda don't see the point of this. I thought you couldn't take a minor across state lines without parental consent?

So really, what's the point of this? That if they get pulled over and tell the cop they are getting an abortion, then what? Who is going to be prosecuted? The guy? For essentially driving her to a Dr.?

JaJae · 07-25-2006, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

A teenage girl who gets pregnant is going to be under a lot of stress. I don't think a doctor should just say "what? you want an abortion? sure thing! let's do this!" but I also don't think every situation should force the girl to tell her parents necessarily.

I just put myself in their shoes... or try to. Even though I'm a dude, when I was a teenager, had I gotten a chick pregnant I would have felt my life was over. I'm sure teenage girls go through the same thing. Why add to the stress by telling them (if they want an abortion) that they HAVE to tell their parents and get their approval, no matter what? At least if they think they'll be able to get one without approval, they'll be more likely to go to a doctor. What happens from there is then between the doctor and the girl, but I would expect him to try to tell her the risks of having an abortion, alternatives to abortion, and why she SHOULD tell her parents, though the decision is ultimately up to her.

I never said anything about approval. I don't think they need parental approval and here you just caught me being hypocritical.

I don't know, hopefully some parents on the forum can respond and give their input on the matter. A very good friend of mine got pregnant during highschool and had an abortion without her parents knowing. Her parents finding out would have been very bad for her, but at the same time I feel as though they had a right to know. I would want to know if it was my child.

JaJae · 07-25-2006, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

Well, it's not a law that she has to inform her parents. But, for the most part, it's already illegal to take a child across state lines...So I kinda don't see the point of this. I thought you couldn't take a minor across state lines without parental consent?

So really, what's the point of this? That if they get pulled over and tell the cop they are getting an abortion, then what? Who is going to be prosecuted? The guy? For essentially driving her to a Dr.?

Speak of the devil

IminWonderland · 07-25-2006, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

I never said anything about approval. I don't think they need parental approval and here you just caught me being hypocritical.

I don't know, hopefully some parents on the forum can respond and give their input on the matter. A very good friend of mine got pregnant during highschool and had an abortion without her parents knowing. Her parents finding out would have been very bad for her, but at the same time I feel as though they had a right to know. I would want to know if it was my child.

I just found out today I'm having a girl.

If she got knocked up, I'd hope she would want to come talk to me. But, I also know, that I am not going to force her to become a Mother before she's ready. Becoming a mother is such a life changing thing, that I believe that it has to be a choice. As much as I hope that she would want to seek my advice and counsel, I don't believe that anyone should make that decision for her. And I'd hope she wouldn't have to go across state lines to make that choice.

Scrum · 07-25-2006, 08:42 PM

I'm not in favor of this. They shoudn't be trying to limit peoples rights to dictate what is done with their bodies by threat of prison time.

If they wanted to set up some system where the parents are notified, I would be fine with that.

This bill isn't to make sure parents know. It's to punish those that are helping the minor. This will result in less abortions, not parental participation in the decision.

IminWonderland · 07-25-2006, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Speak of the devil

Mother hen is in da house!

JaJae · 07-25-2006, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

I'm not in favor of this. They shoudn't be trying to limit peoples rights to dictate what is done with their bodies by threat of prison time.

If they wanted to set up some system where the parents are notified, I would be fine with that.

This bill isn't to make sure parents know. It's to punish those that are helping the minor. This will result in less abortions, not parental participation in the decision.

That's a good way of looking at it. This is a punishment for abortion bill. They're trying to get something added to it that states if it's a grandparent of clergy person it would be ok...

JaJae · 07-25-2006, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

Mother hen is in da house!

Congratulations on the girl. I'm sure she'll be as cute as that rascal you got now.

IminWonderland · 07-25-2006, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Congratulations on the girl. I'm sure she'll be as cute as that rascal you got now.

Awe thanks!

I hope so...because if not, she's going to wonder wat do why all the hot genes went to my son....what will I tell her?!?

IminWonderland · 07-25-2006, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

That's a good way of looking at it. This is a punishment for abortion bill. They're trying to get something added to it that states if it's a grandparent of clergy person it would be ok...

If anyone should have to pay for the gas, it should be the guy who was the other party in the pregnancy.....

Scrum · 07-25-2006, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by IminWonderland

If anyone should have to pay for the gas, it should be the guy who was the other party in the pregnancy.....

In this case he will be paying for gas and bail.

Ardentfrost · 07-25-2006, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

I would want to know if it was my child.

Oh, I certainly feel the same way. But then, I don't want to raise my child to make decisions based on being afraid of the consequences, but to make decisions because they are knowledgable on the subject. Therefore, if my child chose to have sex at 16, then I would hope that I had raised and educated them well enough to use protection, not only to prevent conception, but to lessen the chances of getting an STD. I would want them to be knowledgable about the STDs and what the chances are of getting them when using a condom.

Education and knowledge > * when making decisions. Misinformation, in my opinion, is the biggest cause of making poor decisions, and MANY institutions (be it church, school, or otherwise) propagate misinformation

JaJae · 07-25-2006, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

In this case he will be paying for gas and bail.

Little prick should have to pay for something

The guys get off so easy in cases like this where the girl keeps her mouth shut and gets the abortion (unless they wanted the kid, but that's another debate). I'm sure the stress is a overwhelming, but they get off easy by comparison.

motivez · 07-25-2006, 08:57 PM

I think the state lines thing is a good idea really. I'm pro-choice in that I think women should have the right to decide, but I don't think another adult should be able to transport a minor to another state to get an aboriton. Who knows if they're being pressured or otherwise?

If another adult is transporting the minor, I think there should have to be parental consent for the adult to do the transportation. If they go themselves and manage to get bus tickets or whatever, it should probably be their choice whether or not to inform.

IMO, if the parent has done their job as a parent and earned the trust of their child without being overly judgemental, etc, then their daughter is likely to discuss things like this with them anyway.

On the other hand, if they've been judgemental, or are seriously religious, or might kick them out or whatever.. I can fully understand why they might want to have the ability not to inform them.

Obviously there are exceptions, but I'd be willing to bet that's the case for most cases. I'd certainly want to know if it was my kid though