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Idaho Becomes First State to Criminalize Coercing a Woman to Have an Abortion

Female advocate of law calls it "pro-woman"

 By Michael Baggot

BOISE, ID, April 14, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter signed a bill into law on Thursday that makes Idaho the first state to legally forbid individuals from forcing a woman to have an abortion.

House Bill 654 criminalizes any physical harm or threats used with the intention of inducing an abortion.

Thanks to the new law, "a woman or girl wronged by a predator or abusive partner would not have to wait upon the mercies of some prosecuting attorney to seek justice - even after an abortion. In fact, the language of the law allows a woman to seek civil damages even if she doesn't undergo an abortion," explained an Idaho Chooses Life web report.

"We currently have laws that protect a woman's right to choose abortion but virtually nothing that protects a woman from being forced into having an abortion. Predators, abusive boyfriends and angry mothers and fathers have been violently coercing women into getting abortions for years," stated Brandi Swindell of Engage the Culture in a March testimony to the House committee looking at the bill.

"The abortion lobby's opposition to this legislation is deeply disturbing on many levels. It's like the tobacco industry pretending there is nothing wrong with smoking in order to protect their financial interests. It's unfortunate that the pro-choice line falls short of truly helping women."

"Where's the choice in a forced abortion? The abortion lobby sees House Bill 464 as a threat to their pro-choice belief system. The majority of Idahoan's, including me, see this bill not as pro-life or pro-choice but as pro-woman," added Swindell.

Planned Parenthood of Idaho expressed disappointment over the enactment of the new law on their website. Instead of the anti-coercion legislation, the Planned Parenthood encourages more programs dealing with domestic abuse, increased contraceptive distribution, and the development of "comprehensive sex education" programs.

Silent No More Awareness Campaign (SNMAC), a support network for men and women hurt by abortion, applauded Idaho for its new law and encourages all states to adopt similar legislation.

"Abortion is traumatic on its own, coerced abortion is beyond horrific. Those who oppose domestic abuse and those who seek to protect women and their unborn babies should unite to support this kind of legislation in every jurisdiction," stated SNMAC co-founder Georgette Forney.

See previous related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Pro-Abortion Groups Fighting Michigan Ban on Coerced Abortion
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/dec/06121306.html

Special Report Exposes America's Forced Abortion Epidemic
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/sep/06092902.html

Read the text of HB 654:
http://www3.state.id.us/oasis/H0654.html

Read Swindell's testimony:
http://www.brandiswindell.org/news.asp?id=50

Learn about the SNMAC:
http://www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org

Thank the governor:
http://gov.idaho.gov/WebRespond/contact_form.html

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