JAC's blog

In many states, “fetal rights” laws are putting pregnant women in jail

Several states have laws that place the rights of fertilized eggs above women's constitutional rights and safety

Katie McDonough at Salon.com has written about laws in several states which give rights to fertilized eggs that are superceding the rights of pregnant women. In some cases, women are being jailed to protect the "rights of the unborn."

Anti-abortion Extremists Urge Kidnapping of Women on Way to Clinic

In a new and outrageous twist on anti-abortion activism, a group tweeted a suggestion to volunteer to escort Texas women to abortion clinics, but then try to talk them out of it in the car and drive them to a church instead, while making sure the women missed their appointments.

Fears are held for the safety of women in Texas after an anti-abortion group infiltrated a pro-choice volunteering service, with the aim of kidnapping women to change their minds on abortion.

State laws restricting reproductive rights passed since 2009

May 31, 2015 marked the six year anniversary of the murder of Dr. George Tiller, a reproductive health physician in Wichita, Kansas who provided late-term abortions for women in need.  Since Dr. Tiller was killed, states across the country have continued to pass laws aimed at limiting access to this legal medical procedure.

State Anti-Abortion Statutes Enacted Since Death of Dr. Tiller

Alabama:

State laws protecting the right to choose passed since 2009

The following states have passed laws protecting the right to choose since the death of Dr. George Tiller in 2009:

Arizona:

  • 7/2009  Prohibits coercing a woman into having an abortion
  • 7/2009  Establishes criteria for a judge to utilize when considering bypassing the state's parental consent for abortion law

California:

Ted Cruz Calls Birth Control 'Abortifacients'

While addressing the conservative Value Voter Summit, Senator Ted Cruz conflated birth control with abortion-inducing medication, a common erroneous talking point for the anti-choice proponents.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Friday repeated the misguided conservative talking point that the birth control coverage rule included in Obamacare forces employers to cover abortion-inducing pills.

Out of Africa, to an Israeli Wildlife Hospital

Located in the migratory path of birds and dedicated to creatures great and small, an Israeli wildlife hospital provides refuge and care for wild animals in need.

The swift that survived, the hedgehog that didn’t, the Steppe Eagle that flew in from Africa with an arrow in its flesh, and other life-and-death tales from a Ramat Gan facility that treats all creatures great and small.

Why It Matters - Colorado Recall Election 2013

Democratic Colorado State Senators John Morse and Angela Giron were ousted this week in a recall election that will have impact far beyond the state's borders. For supporting the states new stricter gun laws, the two were subjected to a one-issue recall campaign. Historically, recall elections have been considered in cases of criminal or unethical activity, not a single vote. This matters because the recall election and its result will give pause to any lawmaker in any state who considers a vote to impose stricter gun laws.

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