Bob McDonnell, Virginia Governor, Signs Mandatory Ultrasound Bill Into Law

[SunsetDreams]

WASHINGTON -- Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell signed a controversial mandatory ultrasound bill into law Wednesday afternoon, making Virginia the seventh state to require women to have an ultrasound procedure before they can legally have an abortion.

A previous version of the bill would have forced women to undergo an invasive, likely painful transvaginal ultrasound procedure if she was too early into the pregnancy for a more typical transabdominal one to detect fetal age. After that bill sparked widespread protests, McDonnell and House Republicans worked together to write a new bill that would allow women to opt out of the more invasive procedure in favor of an external one.

Democrats are still not pleased with the compromise. Critics of the bill say that it's medically unnecessary and constitutes an egregious government overreach into personal medical decisions that women should make with their doctors.

...

"We have taken out the state-required rape from the bill, but the way it is now is still an assault because it's an unwanted touching," state Sen. Janet Howell (D) told HuffPost in an interview, "and the woman is being coerced to have that happen in order to exercise her constitutional right to an abortion.

GRRRRRRRRR These Republican assholes make me sick!

[LiberalEsto]

1. Virginia is for haters -- woman haters

Time for a whole new ad campaign.

[onehandle]

2. History will not be kind to these petty, dickless assholes. nt

[hifiguy]

3. And the lawsuit seeking an injunction will be filed

in 3, 2, 1......

[Chipper Chat]

4. I would love to see a 'Million Woman March' to the Virginia Capitol.

Would the Virginia National Gurad or Capitol Police fire on them?

[asjr]

8. I'd like to see the women filing into the legislature

carrying pliers in their hands.

[Chipper Chat]

12. Duzy!

[90-percent]

5. virginia is the seventh state to do this?

I did not know that.

I'm surprised another American Civil War hasn't started over all this yet.

Seems pretty Big Brother Totalitarian Police State to me.

-90% Jimmy

[HockeyMom]

6. In the very early weeks, it will have the opposite effect

which is when the majority of abortions occur. Hearbeat or no heartbeat. It doesn't look human in the early stages. Unless a woman knows this, she will be absolutely horrified at what she sees. Tails? Webbed feet? Yes, before 8 weeks that is what it looks like. You cannot tell a human embryo from a pig, a dog, etc.

[KamaAina]

7. I'd suggest a mandatory ultrasound of the Governor's head

but I doubt they'd find anything.

[longship]

9. Dispicible!

We need more women in government. That's all there is to it.

[gratuitous]

10. Who's going to pay for this?

The woman? The state? Will the doctors do the procedure for free?

[11 Bravo]

11. As the law is written, I believe the woman is liable for the cost. I think this may be ...

the most vulnerable point in what will almost certainly entail a legal challenge.