Posted on 10/11/2005 6:45:23 AM PDT by cloud8
Wis. Law Already Protects Mothers.
MADISON, Wis. -- Asking a breast-feeding mother to cover-up could soon cost people in Wisconsin $200.
A proposed bill by state Sen. Fred Risser would protect mothers who breast-feed in public from being harassed.
Under Wisconsin law it is perfectly legal for a woman to breast-feed her child in a public place.
But while the state law may be behind the mother, the public isn't always behind the law, Madison television station WISC reported.
Michelle Morgan said she has run into problems trying to breast-feed her son, Ian, in public.
"A woman basically said to me that I should probably go somewhere else or make sure that I stayed covered up," said Morgan. "It made me pretty angry."
"It's usually quite innocent," said La Leche League leader Laurel Franczek. "The person who's asking that doesn't realize that women already have the right to breast-feed wherever they are."
Clearing up the confusion about breast-feeding in public is the inspiration for the bill, which is now in front of the state Legislature.
It reinforces current law by slapping future harassers with a $200 fine.
"It is necessary to make clear to those few places in the state that do not accept the law or permit it, that this is the policy of the state of Wisconsin," said Risser.
It's a law Morgan says will give her a little extra firepower if she's asked to cover up again.
"I have the right and the protection to say that I'm legally able to be in this space, and that I'm legally able to nurse my child and you can't tell me otherwise," said Morgan.
Risser says 30 other states have similar protections for public breast-feeding.
Seems like a penalty on freedom of speech. I don't think that calling speech "harrassment" makes this constitutional.
I am utterly amazed. But at least they're trying to make a clean breast of the situation.
I am utterly amazed. But at least they're trying to make a clean breast of the situation.
Wait a second...do you think they'd DARE fine people who harrass people smoking in legal areas???
Just as long as women get what they demand, the rest of us just have to shut up and deal with it. Mothers these days seem so totally self-absorbed and selfish. Once you become a parent, you should put the needs of your child first. If you don't want to do that, maybe you shouldn't have children.
I agree.
Asking someone to cover up and forcing them to are two completely different things.
It ain't fair...
So now we need a new law to give women the right to bear their breasts in public.
When did we raise a generation with such low class. Is it too much to ask them to wear a shirt or use a blanket/towel?
You mean like feeding them?
But its ok to let a pregant woman have her 'tummy' hanging out in view....when I was pregant I wore 'maturnity clothes' whats wrong with that today?
Yes, feeding them in PRIVATE!!! Is that so difficult?
You need a lawyer!
"I have to pee. If it wasn't for the women here at work, I could just pee in the waste basket. But noooooooooo, I got to walk all the way to the Men's Room."
I nursed my baby, and if anyone dared say anything uppity or "offended" to me about it, I would have told them to f*ck off and mind their own business.
If they were smart enough to realize a mother feeding her young is kind of, um, fundamental, then they never would have said anything in the first place.
Most people are too stupid.
Hey, you wanna do it in public? I wanna watch.
the poll is all wrong. It does not give you the choice to say that breastfeeding in public is fine with me. It basically assumes that all people don't like it. Rediculous!
This is silly. They are implementing fines because people are getting offended.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.