Georgia Democrats Offer Anti-Vasectomy Bill

Republicans in Georgia are pushing forward in their march to restrict abortion access, this time with HB 954, a bill that proposes to ban abortions at 20 weeks based on the discredited claim that is the point at which a fetus “feels” pain.

Democrats, on the other hand, have had enough and responded with their own “anti-vasectomy bill.”

Thousands of children are deprived of birth in this state every year because of the lack of state regulation over vasectomies,” said Rep. Yasmin Neal, D-Riverdale, author of the Democrats’ bill. “It is patently unfair that men can avoid unwanted fatherhood by presuming that their judgment over such matters is more valid than the judgment of the General Assembly, while women’s ability to decide is constantly up for debate throughout the United States.

The anti-vasectomy bill, like Oklahoma’s “every sperm is sacred” measure calls out the hypocrisy of the wave of anti-reproductive health bills sweeping the country. The anti-vasectomy bill has not yet been introduced, the fetal pain pain law is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee where it has been the subject of two hearings so far.

Republican lawmakers were not amused by the announcement and seemed to totally miss the point made. “I think it’s disappointing that they would make light of something as important as protecting life,” he said. “It’s just not a joking matter, and it’s a time for serious issues and serious discussion” said the bills sponsor Rep. Doug McKillip.

Democrats offered this response. “The Republican attack on women’s reproductive rights is unconscionable. What is more deplorable is the hypocrisy of HB 954’s author,”said House Democratic Leader Stacey Abrams. “If we follow his logic, we believe it is the obligation of this General Assembly to assert an equally invasive state interest in the reproductive habits of men and substitute the will of the government over the will of adult men,” Abrams said.

To the contrary, Rep. McKillip, calling out sexism and blocking attempts to codify it into law is a serious issue and worthy of serious discussion, whether you and your male colleagues agree or not.

South Dakota Wants To Ban Abortion At 20 Weeks, Nebraska At Six

Photo from Frances Storr via flickr.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Sarah M.

3:42PM PDT on Mar 13, 2012

Thank you.

send a green star

Lynda D.

9:51AM PST on Feb 27, 2012

ANTI VIAGRA - ANTI CIALIS - thereby, those suckers won't be able to get it up!

William and Kat D.

8:33AM PST on Feb 26, 2012

FINALLY! THERE'S A SHOW OF RESPONSIBILITY HERE!! IT'S DOES TAKE TWO!
DON'T OUT IT ALL ON THE WOMEN. THEY HAVE THE CARE, WORK, STRESS, OF THE WHOLE FAMILY AND IT NEVER STOPS TILL THEY ARE RAISED! YES IT COMES DOWN TO THE MEN RESPONSIBILTY FOR YOUR ACTIONS TOO! THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN BE A MAN.

Arild W.

2:11AM PST on Feb 26, 2012

Stranger and stranger............

LD B.

11:01PM PST on Feb 25, 2012

The dying gasps of the paleoconservatives.

Kathryn E.

9:50AM PST on Feb 25, 2012

I think it is a great bill that the Democrats have come up with every man should be made to have a vasectomy and have to carry a card with him to show that he can not conceive a child. The state should have to pay for every male who can produce sperm.

It is easier for a man to have this reversed when he wants to have a child.

I believe this is a just alternative and then we don't have to worry about abortion at all or all these attacks on women.

Sylvia M.

7:42AM PST on Feb 25, 2012

Damn. Too bad Georgia is so much further from the Canadian border than those other wonderful states like Wisconsin. Gotta come up with contingency plans. Where's Tara plantation with that huge, massive staircase?

Naomi A.

9:06PM PST on Feb 24, 2012

Anyone ever watch a Luke Wilson movie called Idiocracy?
That is what the Republicans look to be aiming for.
Complete stupidity.

Catherine D.

4:38PM PST on Feb 24, 2012

Itty bitty nanocaskets for all the lost and forlorn dead spermies.

Make em out of Buckyballs. Set up funerary chapels to say mass for them.
Sell urns and lockets, microscopes to look at them.

Hire right-to life types as professional mourners.

Give em a gig.

Ryana R.

8:26PM PST on Feb 23, 2012

OH really John wome need to say no period! this has got be the most ignorant thing ever how about you say no! get freaking life sex will always be there and u know what I will have sex when I want get over it! and I use protection but god forbid if something happens and it breaks I will have the freedom to abort it ! if choose toandthey way I feel now I would abort just to shut you zealots up! god what a freaking god damn stupid statement telling women to abstain god your pathetic!