South Dakota Moves To Legalize Killing Abortion Providers

[phantom power]

A law under consideration in South Dakota would expand the definition of "justifiable homicide" to include killings that are intended to prevent harm to a fetus—a move that could make it legal to kill doctors who perform abortions. The Republican-backed legislation, House Bill 1171, has passed out of committee on a nine-to-three party-line vote, and is expected to face a floor vote in the state's GOP-dominated House of Representatives soon.
"The bill in South Dakota is an invitation to murder abortion providers."

The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Phil Jensen, a committed foe of abortion rights, alters the state's legal definition of justifiable homicide by adding language stating that a homicide is permissible if committed by a person "while resisting an attempt to harm" that person's unborn child or the unborn child of that person's spouse, partner, parent, or child. If the bill passes, it could in theory allow a woman's father, mother, son, daughter, or husband to kill anyone who tried to provide that woman an abortion—even if she wanted one.

Jensen did not return calls to his home or his office requesting comment on the bill, which is cosponsored by 22 other state representatives and four state senators.

"The bill in South Dakota is an invitation to murder abortion providers," says Vicki Saporta, the president of the National Abortion Federation, the professional association of abortion providers. Since 1993, eight doctors have been assassinated at the hands of anti-abortion extremists, and another 17 have been the victims of murder attempts. Some of the perpetrators of those crimes have tried to use the justifiable homicide defense at their trials. "This is not an abstract bill," Saporta says. The measure could have major implications if a "misguided extremist invokes this 'self-defense' statute to justify the murder of a doctor, nurse or volunteer," the South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families warned in a message to supporters last week.

http://m.motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/south-dakota-hb-1171-legalize-killing-abortion-providers

[FiveGoodMen]

1. There is no reasoning with these "people"

We'll have to have another Civil War.

[cascadiance]

2. Perhaps we should have these legislators tried federally for abetting murder!

Might be good to give THEM a death penalty trial for enabling MURDERERS! They are no better than these murderers themselves!

The only way for them perhaps to plead not guilty is if they claim themselves to be fetuses and are trying to stand up for rights against fetuses that are "oppressed by humans". Might be hard for them to do now though...

[uppityperson]

3. ooooo, open season on pharmacists also

Hey, anyone who might sell Plan B can be killed, right? And since any OC can be used as Plan B, then anyone who sells, uses, etc any birth control pills can be killed too, including delivery truck drivers.

How about anyone using an IUD? They can be killed also, along with the provider who put it in.