A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill that would punish women who undergo an abortion with the death penalty. Republican Rep. Bryan Slaton hopes to “abolish” abortion and criminalize terminations from the moment of conception, writing on Twitter that “the bill will end the discriminatory practice of terminating the life of innocent children, and will guarantee the equal protection of the laws to all Texans, no matter how small.”
Today, I filed HB 3326 to Abolish Abortion in Texas.
The bill will end the discriminatory practice of terminating the life of innocent children, and will guarantee the equal protection of the laws to all Texans, no matter how small. #txlege pic.twitter.com/W1lpG4q6G1
— Bryan Slaton (@BryanforHD2) March 9, 2021
- The details of the bill, known as HB 3326, are absolutely insane. If the idea that a group of cells being more important than a fully cognizant, autonomous grown human woman seems nuts to you, your mind is going to be blown by Slaton’s warped bill. It would mean that any woman who got an abortion from any doctor or clinic would be charged with assault or homicide, the latter of which is eligible for the death penalty.
- There are zero exemptions for rape or incest. A press release from Slaton read: “For decades, the State of Texas has allowed the discriminatory, barbaric and murderous practice of aborting babies in the womb, and it must come to an end.” That includes forcing women who’ve been subject to rape or incest to still carry a baby to full term and go through labor. The only exception is if abortion is “intended to remove an ectopic pregnancy that seriously threatens the life of the mother when a reasonable alternative to save the lives of both the mother and the unborn child is unavailable.”
- Apparently, this is a patriotic issue. According to Slaton, it’s the responsibility of all Texans to tell women how to handle their own bodies and to force them into motherhood even if they’re traumatized by it or simply don’t want it. “It is time for Texas to protect the natural right to life for the tiniest and most innocent Texans, and this bill does just that. It’s time Republicans make it clear that we actually think abortion is murder… unborn children are dying at a faster rate in Texas than COVID patients, but Texas isn’t taking the abortion crisis seriously,” the statement continued. Yes, because there’s literally a “crisis” of women not letting cells turn into human beings…
- Texas Democrats have pointed out how ridiculous this bill proposition is. “Texas Republicans filed a bill to abolish and criminalize abortions – potentially leaving women and physicians who perform the procedure to face the death penalty. The right to choose is a human right. Period,” they wrote in response.
- Thankfully, this bill is unlikely to see the light of day. Back in 2017, Slaton’s fellow Republican Tony Tinderholt tried to introduce a similar measure and had to be placed under police protection because of all the death threats he received, the Texas Tribune reports. Ironic, really.
Texas Republicans filed a bill to abolish and criminalize abortions — potentially leaving women and physicians who perform the procedure to face the death penalty.
The right to choose is a human right. Period. #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/zh6ratSDlJ
— Texas Democrats (@texasdemocrats) March 10, 2021
