Fascinating discussion in the Leader on Dave McSweeney’s view of when abortion is acceptable:
IL: You do allow for exceptions for abortion – the life of the mother and in the case of reported rape and incest, is that right?
M: Life of the mother, and reported cases of rape and incest. But what I?ve also said is that if on the final text of legislation rape and incest exceptions are not included, I would still vote for it. The reason I would vote for it is I think it?s imperative that we protect the unborn and I?ve been consistent and won?t back down from the view that in the cases of reported rape and incest.
IL: What makes the value of a baby?s life different if it was conceived as the result of reported rape or incest?
M: The distinction is whether it has been reported – not a question of the baby?s value. It insures that an incident has occurred. There have been stories and concerns in the past that someone could just say they were raped or a victim of incest. That creates too broad of an exception up to that point. That?s where I?m drawing the distinction – why I use the word ?reported.? Someone has to actually go to a police department and then be in a situation of reporting.
So taking this further—umm..so what if the police find it to be unfounded? Is the police department then to decide whether an abortion can take place?
Or more fun in trying to control women’s bodies, what definition of rape are we going to use? Does it have to be an aggravated sexual assault? Or just a lessor offense? Do the police have to agree? Or do we get to have a fun game of trying to figure out if it’s a false report? Do you prosecute false reports? And how do you know if it isn’t a rape that results in significant physical damage?
While I usually don’t buy that most pro-lifers just want to control women, the result of this kind of crap will almost certainly lead to just such a thing and resemble the Handmaid’s Tale a lot closer than anyone would like to admit.