Abortion After a Rape Is Not Like Murdering Your Mother's Killer

Kentucky Republican David Williams is running for governor, and the state senate president has the complete backing of Kentucky anti-abortion groups. And with this justification for why a rape victim should be forced to give birth to her attacker’s child, it’s no wonder.

Via Think Progress:

Williams said he opposes abortion even for cases of rape and incest, and he likens it to murder: “If somebody shot my mother, I would want to kill them, but I don’t think that is the appropriate thing to do. We have laws against murder.”

Of course, there are numerous reasons why this analogy doesn’t work, starting with the fact that in William’s scenario, his mother is the victim of the crime, whereas in a rape, the woman deciding whether or not to carry the pregnancy is the victim. Should that woman not want to be pregnant, or have her rapist’s baby, she is in fact being victimized over and over again, unlike Williams’ mother.

The statement is a little ambiguous, so let’s look at it from two different ways. Suppose Williams meant “shot” as in wounded, but not killed. Would Williams then deny his mother the chance to have the bullet removed, saying that she should simply live with it, ignore it, and maybe it will come out eventually? Or that some day she might be happy she has a bullet in her? Maybe that the bullet was innocent of the crime, and shouldn’t be held responsible for the actions of the shooter?

My argument is ridiculous, of course. But no more so than denying a rape victim the right to decide if she wants to terminate a pregnancy.

On the other hand, suppose Williams actually meant “what if someone shot and killed my mother?” Well, as for those “laws against murder,” that doesn’t seem to stop the state from enforcing the death penalty.

One of the crimes that can be punishable by death penalty? “Feticide,” the “murder” of an unborn child by any means other than intentional abortion by a legal health care provider. Kentucky passed a feticide bill in 2001 that made it a crime to kill an “unborn child,” first drafting a senate bill to address the issue, then a House bill passed as an “emergency” piece of legislation. According to HB 108:

(1) A person is guilty of fetal homicide in the first degree when:

(a) With intent to cause the death of an unborn child or with the intent necessary to commit an offense under KRS 507.020(1)(a), he causes the death of an unborn child; except that in any prosecution, a person shall not be guilty under this subsection if he acted under the influence of extreme emotional disturbance for which there was a reasonable explanation or excuse, the reasonableness of which is to be determined from the viewpoint of a person in the defendant’s situation under the circumstances as the defendant believed them to be. However, nothing contained in this section shall constitute a defense to a prosecution for or preclude a conviction of fetal homicide in the second degree or any other crime; or

(b) Including but not limited to the operation of a motor vehicle under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life, he wantonly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to an unborn child and thereby causes the death of an unborn child.

(2) Fetal homicide in the first degree is a capital offense.

That emergency piece of legislation was then pushed quickly through the senate, under the guidance of Senate President David Williams.

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Photo credit: wikimedia commons

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michael c.

4:07PM PST on Jan 12, 2012

How did I KNOW it was a Republican comment?

send a green star

Erika M.

6:29AM PST on Dec 2, 2011

noted

Sharon K.

10:16AM PST on Nov 17, 2011

Anyone really surprised to see this coming from Kentucky?!?!

Carol M.

1:29PM PST on Nov 14, 2011

Liz. G. we were never under it , as you yourself said, it is a moral issue not a legal one , we won`t have to answere to the legal system only the hevenly one , and each one is held accountable for their own choices.

Lika S.

11:52PM PST on Nov 13, 2011

Kirby,

Rape isn't about sex. It's about power and control. They can have no sex drive, but the image of overpowering and controlling another human being gives them a "hard on". You have to take away the ability to have power and control. Such as cutting their hands off...

lis G.

4:30PM PST on Nov 13, 2011

This topic has generated so much debate, passion and hot air. It is a MORAL issue not a LEGAL issue. Rape and incest are legal issues, not morality and ethics.

To all the Bible thumping moralists. The Commandment "Thou shalt not commit adultery" is not enshrined in the legal system anymore.

Carol and Ron. Please get yourselves a ladder and get over it.

Kirby K.

3:38PM PST on Nov 13, 2011

To cut off the testicules of a rapist means he can still rape but not be caught with DNA. Why not take away hi sex-drive, a lobotomy. At least we can have a cheap work force that the State could make the rapist could work off the cost of the surgery. With No Sex-Drive, No More Rape. It would, truly be a reduced rape zone, over time.

2:53PM PST on Nov 13, 2011

For the life of the mother, in cases of rape, ok but nothing else!

Monica M.

1:31PM PST on Nov 13, 2011

Also, witch doctors are nothing but a way to get money off stupid people. I know because i have seen several "in action". (Long story short, a few members of the family are dumb enough to buy into that crap an I got dragged along a few times)
I have seen these so-called witch doctors pretend they are possessed by a spirit. They change their voice and make some general questions that could pretty much apply to anyone's life. When said spirit session is done, witch doctor says you need to light some candles and pray to some saints, but you have to buy their super special super expensive pixie dust to go along with it or it won't work. Guess what? Lighting candles and using pixie dust doesn't cure any illnesses. Real doctors do (well, the good ones anyway).

12:26PM PST on Nov 13, 2011

Oh wow, I didn't realize I became a witch while I was gone! So I turned from agnostic to a witch in a couple days? Gee I guess I didn't get the memo.

Newflash: witches aka Wiccans believe in several divinities. They worship the goddess, Mother earth. So please explain how someone who has said OVER AND OVER that I don't believe in any divinities, creators or entities that belong to another plane of existence, can be witch! I'd love to hear that!