Slate posted an article this morning about a proposed federal abortion ban after 20 weeks. The proposed legislation makes only one exception - if the mother has a life-endangering physical condition. No allowances for rape or incest are included.
One Texas lawmaker advocated for a ban after 20 weeks because he once witnessed a 15-week old male fetus masterbating, and "if a fetus can feel pain, it can certainly feel pleasure." When explaining his objection to abortion in the case of rape or incest, another lawmaker said "because, you know, the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low.
First of all, this is absurd. Using masterbation as a justification against abortion boggles the mind, - what does one have to do with the other? The comment about pregnancy after rape really just serves to convince me that our nation's lawmakers need a sexual education class - perhaps they all missed those lessons in high school, but pregnancy can happen any time a man and a woman have unprotected intercourse. End of story.
This is another instance of [generally] conservative, male lawmakers trying to interfere with a woman's sexual and reproductive health. Aside from misplaced religious beliefs, the main motivation from this seems to be a persistent and purposeful misunderstanding of things they cannot experience themselves. It is suspicious that only women's health is targeted - no other health care providers or concerns are so heavily legislated and debated.
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