Posted on 05/05/2011 4:24:46 PM PDT by bronxville
Phoenix, Ariz., Apr 1, 2011 / 01:17 am (CNA).- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed legislation to ban abortions based on the race or sex of the unborn child or based on the race of a parent.
Governor Brewer believes society has the responsibility to protect its most vulnerable, the unborn, the governors spokesman Matthew Benson told The Arizona Republic. He described the bill as consistent with the governors pro-life track record.
The law makes it a Class 3 felony knowingly to perform or finance an abortion sought on the grounds of sex or race, with a maximum punishment of 3 1/2 years in prison.
Illinois, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania already have laws barring sex-selective abortion, but the Arizona law is the first to ban race-based abortion, the New York-based Guttmacher Institute says.
Supporters of the legislation said discrimination-based abortions should be prohibited.
State Sen. Nancy Barto (R-Scottsdale) said that some cultures are bringing their traditions to America that really defy the values of America, including the cultures that value males over females.
Opponents said abortion-performing doctors could face jail time if they lose a newly required affidavit testifying that an abortion is not for race- or sex-selection purposes.
Those against the law also questioned whether there was evidence that such abortions are taking place in Arizona. Rep. Katie Hobbs (D-Phoenix) said the only proof bill sponsor Rep. Steve Montenegro (R-Litchfield Park) offered concerned India and China.
A 2008 study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences conducted by researchers Douglas Almond and Lena Edlund examined figures from the 2000 U.S. Census which showed son-biased sex ratios among U.S.-born children of Chinese, Korean and Asian Indian parents.
The researchers concluded the imbalanced sex ratios were evidence of sex-selection, most likely at the pre-natal stage. Similar sex imbalances have been documented among Canadian Asian immigrant communities.
Sex-selective abortions can have significant effects when practiced on a large scale. In China, millions of men have no women to marry in their age group because a traditional preference for sons has encouraged parents to abort unborn girls.
Wiki says:
According to Geldof, he wrote the song after reading a telex report at Georgia State University’s campus radio station, WRAS, on the shooting spree of 16-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer, who fired at children playing in a school playground at Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego, California on 29 January 1979. She killed two adults and injured eight children and one police officer. Spencer showed no remorse for her crime, and her full explanation for her actions was “I don’t like Mondays; this livens up the day.”
It is my conviction that without a Constitutional Amendment we will be at the constant whim of politicians regarding the issue of abortion. In the meantime, I am for anything we can do incrementally, as long as we don't lose sight of the ultimate goal.
Wow. I hope that at the very least she got life without parole.
I fear that you do not understand this issue or strategy.
Wiki again. 25 to life, it looks like life is winning...
Due to the seriousness of her crime, Spencer was tried as an adult. She mentioned the attacks months before: “One of these mornings, you’re gonna look for me”, “no one understands me” “you don’t have to wait very long to see what is going on with me”. Neither her parents nor her friends paid heed to these statements. She pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and assault with a deadly weapon. She was sentenced to prison for 25 years to life. She is currently at the California Institution for Women in Chino, California. After becoming eligible for parole, Spencer was denied four times, including on August 13, 2009, and will not be eligible again until 2019.
I’m opposed to all abortions, no matter the ‘reason.’
The problem is that if you pass a law that says you cannot have an abortion if Y is the reason why you want an abortion, the woman will simply say she wants an abortion and her reason is X.
Wow. I hope she never gets out. I wouldn’t want her moving next door to me.
Yes, some girl shot kids at a playground I believe. When she was asked why she did it, she replied, “I don’t like Mondays”.
“It is my conviction that without a Constitutional Amendment we will be at the constant whim of politicians regarding the issue of abortion. In the meantime, I am for anything we can do incrementally, as long as we don’t lose sight of the ultimate goal.”
We’re in total agreement. :)
I am actually against this because it legitimizes reasons for and against abortion, when in fact all reasons are not legitimate.
To me this is bad law, as bad as hate crimes law.
Besides, technically in this country the left’s crux of their position lies in the fact these fetuses are not people. If they are not people like the left claims, they then cannot claim you’re aborting a girl or boy. If they are not people like the left says they are not, the issue of race is irrelevant.
This is terrible law. Worse than hate crime law. they need to ban all abortions for all reasons period. This just says there are legitimate reasons to abort and some aren’t. (And no, you jerks who want to argue, ectopic pregnacies are not abortions.)
They’ll make her stay in California, at least until her parole expires. (Next stop, Massachusetts...)
};^P>
Imho, this is not about the individual seeking an abortion. I may be wrong, but I believe this law would apply to an entity such as Planned Parenthood.
LOL! Thanks!
You make great points, but I believe that if by passing this law we save only one life, it’ll be worth it.
Planned Parenthood would cook their books, if they keep them, to appear to be complying with the law even when not.
It seems like a law that would require sting operations like compliance for ID checking for liquor purchase.
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