FANATICS RUNNING WILD

What is it about Utah that they think that they own another's body in their zeal to punish pregnant women they think are not taking care of the fetus?  Recently there was a firestorm of protest over a bill submitted in Utah which would have allowed prison sentences up to life for women who experienced miscarriage or a stillbirth as a result of her 'reckless behavior'.    The article by Lynn Paltrow for RHRealityCheck.org (News, commentary and community for reproductive health and justice) points out:  "Almost immediately, however, Utah legislators revised the bill to exempt women who commit reckless acts but to permit the prosecution of women who commit “knowing” acts that may result in stillbirths and miscarriages from the earliest stages of pregnancy."

"What does this mean? Under this bill, pregnant women who “know” that their cancer medications or other prescription medications could risk harm or cause pregnancy loss could still be arrested. Pregnant women who stay with abusive husbands who they “know” to be angry about the pregnancy could still be arrested under this law. Pregnant women who continue working in jobs they “know” pose hazards to their pregnancies could still be arrested under the law. And even pregnant women who “know” from reading the side of their cigarette packages that smoking is hazardous to their pregnancies could be arrested under this law."

Of particular amusement was the suggestion the writer had for the perpetrators and backers of the bill.  "The Utah bill should be overturned by the Federal Supreme Court as soon as possible. Then, every single judge, legislator, minister, and pornographer in Utah should be immediately put into one of the FEMA concentration camps with scarlet letters on their foreheads and then put the serial killers, Pagan and Hell’s Angels motorcycle gangs in charge of these “fine” men and women. If these upstanding citizens get raped by the guards, men or women, then these judges, legislators, ministers, and pornographers should be put to death by stoning. That makes as much sense at Utah’s “bill”, but seems much more fair to me."  To me, too, Ms Paltrow.  It almost seems to good for this bunch of misogynists.  If you would like to read the whole article, click here.