I'm not a Virginian....

[hobbitomm]

I'm not a Virginian. In fact, I'm not even an American. But I am both a human being, and I _hope_ that I am also a _humane_ being, and I am left shocked and dismayed with what I've read in regard to a Bill being proposed for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Unfortunately, as a non-American, I do not feel I can directly interfere in what is (regretably) their business. However, I would ask anyone who _does_ feel they are entitled to mail the Representative to do so, because this is a Bill whose results would be intrusive, not address what they claim to, and mind blowingly _cruel_.

http://dailykos.com/story/2005/1/6/194434/1328

Comments

[e-halmac.livejournal.com]

jrab and i are both disgusted
i can't believe anyone could be as insensitive as to suggest this
i just can't imagine how anyone would feel after such a trauma, and then having to report it to the police as well
its so intrusive

[gypsy0131.livejournal.com]

As I was reading through the comments on the site you listed, I saw that someone noted that this is really about overturning Roe v. Wade. I think that's a fair assessment of this- as by forcing women to register these deaths, then it will be set as a precedent, and it can be argued that an abortion is thus the taking of a lide- e.g. murder. Virginia is a very conservative state, but I would never have thought that they had such zealots in office. What is most worrying about all of this is that not enough Americans are DOING anything to create a better country, so as a consequence crappy politicians like this man in Virginia have too much control over the lives of the citizens. It is my opinion that the state is there for us, not the other way around. Unfortunately, most in power don't see this anymore.

Now I am quite annoyed, and have nothing to do to vent my spleen. Grrrr.

[lilitufire.livejournal.com]

Ick.

Ick, ick, ickety ick.

*sends good vibes to Virginians opposing this utter drivel*

Yes....

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Yes, and it's also a law open to really gross civil (dis)obedience.

Any products of conception. Hrm. Well, you can't really know for certain if you've fertilised an ovum in any given month, if you've had sex. Granted, you've had a period, but perhaps it was just a slightly heavier period- a fair number of eggs never implant, afterall, or slough off almost immediately. So... if every one of those has to be reported to the police...

"Hello. Virginia Sherriffs Department, may I help you Ma'am?"

"Yes, I've had sex this month, and my period just started. But I'm not sure if I might have been pregnant and miscarried really early. The law says I have to report it, so here I am, officer!"

"Errrrm."

"Of course, the law also says I have to weigh it, but I'm not sure how to go about that. I've brought my sanitary towels, officer. Could you do the honours for me?"

"Uhhhhhh..."

"And the law says I also have to report gender. I'm afraid I really can't tell for sure. Would you have a good close look, and see if you can make anything out?"

"Errrrr...."


And so on.

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

That's how I see it. What I find even more alarming is that he's trying to sell it as a law to protect children that are born alive, and then exposed. There's already such a law. It's called Murder, and it's against Common Law!

Damn smokescreen making lying..... politicians!

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Not, sadly, just drivel. It's actively dangerous, I think. And I fret that the most powerful nation in the world has legislators like this!

Re: Yes....

[e-halmac.livejournal.com]

ok
that cheered us up
;)

Re: Yes....

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Trust me to poke fun at the evil state in my own particular way ;)

[kfitzwarin.livejournal.com]

Actually, I wrote to the delegate who proposed this piece of legislation, and got back a form letter that *claims* the intent of the bill is to have people who have stillbirths (without medical attendance) report them, because of a fairly high incidence in his area of full-term babies being found in trashcans, skips, etc. He specifically says that it's not about abortion or miscarriages. For what that's worth....

[hobbitomm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, except that's not what the bill actually _says_. It goes for 'any products of conception'.... which is a lot wider than just full term stillbirths.

[kfitzwarin.livejournal.com]

Yep. I wrote him back a note saying pretty much exactly that. Sigh.