Tonya Somanander of Think Progress is reporting that Indiana Republican Rep. Eric Turner introduced a bill that would make most abortions illegal after 20 weeks instead of 24 weeks. State Rep. Gail Riecken, a Democrat, introduced an amendment to the bill that would exempt women who are the victims of rape or incest or for whom pregnancy would threaten their life. Reicken said that women should be allowed to make the choice in these instances. Turner returned to the podium, stating that Reicken's proposal would create a "giant loophole" in the bill because some women would lie to get an abortion.
Turner said, "I don't want to disparage in any way someone who has gone through the experience of a rape or incest — but someone who is desirous of an abortion could simply say that they've been raped or there's incest."
Democratic Rep. Linda Dawson, a former sex-crimes investigator for the Indiana state police, lambasted Turner for suggesting that women would lie. "Women don’t make this up! My goodness!" she exclaimed.
"My goodness," indeed. Suggesting that women fake the horrible experience of rape and incest is just plain wrong and shows how little regard Turner has for women. To add insult to injury, he is the person making archaic laws that affect women's bodies. That's pretty disgusting and sad.
Read more at Think Progress. Watch video of Turner making the comments and the fallout below:
In other news: North Carolina Passes Bill Allowing Guns in Parks and Bars.
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