MyFox
 

The Relentless Blogger

by Relentless from Northeast Austin

Last Post 166 days, 6 hours Ago


Take my rights...PLEASE!
Apr 28, 2007 | 10:29 AM
Category: News
Report This Post

Think your freedom of choice and your ability to recieve the medical care you need is safe? If you're a woman, you might want to consider the following:

  • April 2007: Police confirm that a device placed outside a south Austin women's health care facility (which provides birth control care and counseling among its services) was a live bomb, intended to destroy the facility.
  • April 2007: The United States Senate passes legislation banning partial-birth abortions (a specific method used under specific circumstances) in all 50 states. This ban makes it a criminal act for any physician to perform this procedure - irrespective of the patient's health needs or condition - and carrying with it a penalty of two years in Federal prison for any physician who defies the ban, even if the procedure is deemed medically necessary to protect the patient's health.
  • April 2007: The Seattle Legislature took the lead in an increasingly heated debate over the "morning after" pill (known as EC or emergency contraception, Plan B, mifepristone or RU 486) by mandating all pharmacies to fill all lawful prescriptions, including EC. This decision came in response to an increasing incidence of women being refused the prescription pill by pharmacists - most notably, at Wal-Mart stores. Now patient access to Plan B "will not be undermined by personal, non-medical judgments," said Karen Cooper, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington.
  • April 2007: The Oklahoma Senate votes 32 to 16 for a bill critics say restricts doctors from recommending abortions in medical emergencies for women who are on Medicaid or have no insurance.
  • April 2007: New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer introduces the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act. Spitzer's proposal would remove abortion from criminal statutes and make it a matter of professional and medical discretion. It would also repeal an old statute "that criminalizes, among other things, providing nonprescription contraception to minors," according to the governor's office. The Act would only impact residents of the state of New York.
  • April 2007: In Washington DC, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) reintroduced the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies (CARE) Act – a bill that would ensure that sexual-assault survivors are offered emergency contraception in hospital emergency rooms; Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ) also recently reintroduced his companion bill in the House. The CARE Act would ensure that survivors of sexual assault are offered emergency contraception (EC) in the emergency room. Emergency contraception is a concentrated dose of ordinary birth-control pills that can dramatically reduce a woman’s chance of becoming pregnant if taken soon after sex. EC does not cause abortion; rather it is a safe and effective way to prevent pregnancy and was recently approved for over-the-counter sales for adults. Senator Clinton's support of the CARE Act was in response to attempts last month in South Dakota to make it illegal to offer emergency contraception - or even information about EC - to assault victims in emergency centers.

 
... and that's in just ONE MONTH of this year. Below is an overview of "Choice" bills that are currently in consideration in Texas' 80th Legislative Session. If you still believe your rights and freedoms are guaranteed, you're not reading the facts.

I am offended that my right to make my own choices and decisions in respect to my own body and health are under constant attack and "re-evaluation". I'm doubly offended that while the majority of the U.S. population is either "pro-choice" or neutral on the subject of abortion, the minority has been vocal enough to supercede MY rights. I'm even more offended that these decisions are being made FOR WOMEN mostly BY MEN - men who could not possibly understand the myriad circumstances under which one might need factual medical advice relating to an unwanted pregnancy.

Most of all, I am offended at the stupidity of WOMEN protesting to have their own Constitutional rights revoked. We give ourselves labels like "pro-life" (suggesting those who do not share one's political and moral values are against life?) and "pro-choice" (suggesting that those who do not share these values are against freedom?), choose up sides, and go at each other while we demand our mostly-male political representatives vote to determine what is best for us all? Does this make ANY sense?

You have the right to believe what you choose to believe, stand up for the causes you choose to support, place your faith where you choose to place it, and live your life by the moral code that is right for you. You have every right to embrace the religion, values, ethics and morals of your own choosing. You have the right to fight (peacably) for what you believe in; but while you are embracing YOUR rights, don't forget the rights of others. We are a free country because we respect and value the differences that make our culture so rich. As individuals, some of us may not REALLY "celebrate differences and diversity", but as a nation, we have agreed to hold each individual's rights sacred.

As women, we enjoy more freedoms than women in most any other nation in the world. WHY are we trying to take our own freedoms away from ourselves? As an individual, I may not believe that abortion, contraception, sex education in public schools, different religions or faiths, or any other "hot" issue is right. I may, in fact, believe it is very wrong. I may even believe that I am mandated by my higher power to stand up for what I believe, and shun all those who oppose what I believe ... but my rights end where someone else's physical person, mind, and rights begin. The line is clear.

You have every right to decide what is right and best for you. I have the same right - even if the decisions we ultimately make for ourselves are different. What neither of us has is the right to decide for the other what is ABSOLUTELY so. "There are many truths, but only one reality," as they say.

The reality is, we are forgetting that no matter how powerfully we as individuals hold a thing to be true, that doesn't give us the right to impose our beliefs on the entire population. To do so is disrespectful, ignorant, selfish, and wholely un-American.

Texas
The Texas Legislature's regular session runs from January 09, 2007 to May 28, 2007. Bills that have not been enacted by the end of this legislative session will not carry over to next year.

You can track these bills as they make their way through the 2007 legislative session at: Texas Legislature Online.


Pro-Life Legislation:

Pro-Life Clinics
Bill Number: TX H 224
Summary: Establishes "Choose Life" license plates; allocates funding for pro-life clinics that do not offer a full range of reproductive options.
Sponsor: Paxton (R)
Introduced: 01/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Pro-Life License Plates
Bill Number: TX H 224
Summary: Establishes "Choose Life" license plates; allocates funding for pro-life clinics that do not offer a full range of reproductive options.
Sponsor: Paxton (R)
Introduced: 01/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Biased Counseling and Mandatory Delay
Bill Number: TX H 21
Summary: Modifies existing law that requires women receive state-mandated lecture, which may include medically inaccurate information, prior to obtaining abortion services.
Sponsor: Corte (R)
Introduced: 01/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX S 1567
Summary: Modifies existing biased counseling law to require that a doctor tell a woman seeking an abortion that the state will pay her $500 to choose adoption instead of abortion.
Sponsor: Patrick (R)
Introduced: 03/08/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Emergency Contraception
Bill Number: TX H 23
Summary: Requires pharmacies to post a sign with biased information regarding emergency contraception (EC).
Sponsor: Corte (R)
Introduced: 01/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Legislative Declaration
Bill Number: TX HCR 87
Summary: The Texas Legislature declares its opposition to a young woman's right to confidential family planning services.
Sponsor: Smith T (R)
Introduced: 02/12/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Mandatory Ultrasound
Bill Number: TX S 920
Summary: Requires a woman to undergo an ultrasound even if not medically necessary. Requires a woman to view ultrasound images before she may have an abortion. Requires abortion providers obtain costly ultrasound equipment, even if not medically necessary for patient care.
Sponsor: Patrick (R)
Introduced: 04/12/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Near-Total Abortion Ban
Bill Number: TX H 175
Summary: Imposes near-total criminal ban on abortion. Includes an exception only to prevent a woman's death. Would take effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court or constitutional amendment.
Sponsor: Chisum (R)
Introduced: 01/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX S 186
Summary: Imposes near-total criminal ban on abortion. Includes an exception only to prevent a woman's death. Would take effect if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the Supreme Court or constitutional amendment.
Sponsor: Patrick (R)
Introduced: 01/10/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Refusal to Provide Medical Services
Bill Number: TX H 1996
Summary: Allows pharmacists to refuse to provide or dispense contraceptives in all or most circumstances.
Sponsor: Toureilles (D)
Introduced: 02/26/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Sex/STD Education
Bill Number: TX H 311
Summary: Restricts minors' access to comprehensive medically and factually accurate sex education by requiring parental consent.
Sponsor: Chisum (R)
Introduced: 01/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX S 1807
Summary: Prohibits minors' access to comprehensive medically and factually accurate sex education by requiring parental consent.
Sponsor: Brimer (R)
Introduced: 03/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP)
Bill Number: TX H 22
Summary: Amends existing law to subject additional abortion providers to burdensome restrictions.
Sponsor: Corte (R)
Introduced: 01/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced



Pro-Choice Legislation:

Emergency Contraception
Bill Number: TX H 2161
Summary: Ensures that sexual assault victims receive information about and access to emergency contraception (EC).
Sponsor: Farrar (D)
Introduced: 02/28/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Guaranteed Access to Prescriptions
Bill Number: TX S 1591
Summary: Requires a pharmacy or pharmacist to fill valid prescriptions and fulfill all lawful requests for contraceptives approved for OTC use.
Sponsor: Shapleigh (D)
Introduced: 03/08/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Healthy Childbearing
Bill Number: TX H 1455
Summary: Promotes healthy childbearing by establishing a pilot program to treat substance abuse in pregnant women.
Sponsor: Bohac (R)
Introduced: 02/14/2007
Last Action: Introduced


HIV/STD Prevention/Education
Bill Number: TX H 1846
Summary: Promotes prevention of HIV/STDs by offering education on the transmission and prevention of communicable diseases, including HIV and assists program participants in obtaining HIV testing.
Sponsor: Ortiz (D)
Introduced: 02/22/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX H 856
Summary: Promotes prevention of HIV/STDs by authorizing the establishment of disease control programs, including an education program on the transmission and prevention of HIV and STDs.
Sponsor: McClendon (D)
Introduced: 01/25/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX S 308
Summary: Promotes prevention of HIV/STDs by authorizing the establishment of disease control programs, including an education program on the transmission and prevention of HIV and STDs.
Sponsor: Deuell (R)
Introduced: 01/24/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX H 1370
Summary: Promotes prevention of HIV/STD's by reinstating the Interagency Coordinating Council for HIV and Hepatitis. Amended on 4-5-07 to specify duties and responsibilities.
Sponsor: Coleman (D)
Introduced: 02/13/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Insurance Coverage for Contraception
Bill Number: TX H 268
Summary: Requires health insurance plans that provide prescription drug benefits to cover contraceptives.
Sponsor: Anchia (D)
Introduced: 01/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Legislative Declaration
Bill Number: TX SR 443
Summary: The Texas Senate declares March 10, 2007, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Sponsor: Ellis (D)
Introduced: 03/12/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX HR 221
Summary: The Texas House of Representatives declares February 2, 2007 as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Sponsor: Davis Y (D)
Introduced: 02/01/2007
Last Action: Passed House
Last Action Date: 02/07/2007


Prevention and Treatment of Gynecological Cancers
Bill Number: TX S 1696
Summary: Expands eligibility for medical assistance coverage for cervical cancer screening services.
Sponsor: Nelson (R)
Introduced: 03/09/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Regulating Pro-Life Clinics
Bill Number: TX H 2142
Summary: Prohibits 'crisis pregnancy centers' (CPCs) from deceptively or fradaulently advertising with regard to pregnancy-related medical services.
Sponsor: Rodriguez (D)
Introduced: 02/27/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX S 1174
Summary: Requires crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs') to maintain quality-control practices for their facilities.
Sponsor: Ellis (D)
Introduced: 03/06/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX H 2878
Summary: Requires crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs') to maintain quality-control practices for their facilities.
Sponsor: Thompson (D)
Introduced: 03/07/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX H 2036
Summary: Requires 'crisis pregnancy centers' (CPCs) to provide medically and factually accurate information to women seeking information or counseling about pregnancy or abortion.
Sponsor: Dutton (D)
Introduced: 02/27/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX H 2223
Summary: Requires crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to provide factually and medically accurate information.
Sponsor: Villarreal (D)
Introduced: 03/01/2007
Last Action: Introduced


Sex/STD Education
Bill Number: TX H 1842
Summary: Improves sex education in schools and communities.
Sponsor: Strama (D)
Introduced: 02/22/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX HB2161
Summary: Relating to providing information and other services relating to emergency contraception to sexual assault survivors
Sponsor: Farrar (D)
Introduced: 03/08/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Bill Number: TX H 3165
Summary: Improves sex education in schools and communities.
Sponsor: Watson (D)
Introduced: 02/22/2007
Last Action: Introduced

Your elected legislators are in session right now representing you. ARE they representing you? Now is the time to make your opinions known. Tell your elected officials where you stand on important issues, or live with the decisions of those who do speak up.

11 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 11
Page 1 of 1
citymouse read my blog view my photos
Apr 28, 2007 | 8:35 PM

I am one of your neutrals. I don't condemn anyone that has an abortion for whatever reason they decide to do. I however would never do it.

However, partial birth abortion is terrible. Do you know how they do this? They dilate the cervics and then proceed to pull the baby out and stab it in the back of the head with scissors and then suck its brains out until it dies. This is disgusting; these are babies, not embryos. Why not give it a fighting chance? Babies can survive even under a pound these days. This is a living human being. If it is really medically necessary, more than just the chance of a woman having a down syndrome baby, like the baby has no chance of living and or the mother, that is different, I think there should be very strong medical proof that it is necessary. But there are woman out there who decide late in pregnancy that they just don't want a baby, that's what adoption is for. There are thousands of women who can not conceive or carry a child.

I knew a girl who did this a very long time ago; she was almost 8 months pregnant. I didn't know all the details at the time but I still thought she was disgusting for doing so. She had to leave the State; I don’t know where she went. That was a baby that could have survived very easily, shame on the doctor that did that procedure. She didn't have any health issues and neither did the baby, she is just a selfish idiot.

That is one ban I can live with although they should lighten up a bit on the rules if it is truly medically necessary. If it is truly medically necessary they shouldn’t drag it out in court
citymouse read my blog view my photos
Apr 28, 2007 | 8:36 PM

court forever, if it needs to be proven in front of a judge by a doctor than it should take top priority and be decided on in less than a couple of days. I’m sure it is very upsetting to woman that has to make such a decision based on the doctor’s findings; I would be devastated if it were me.

I believe abortion before 2 1/2 months should be the decision of the woman, not the government. If they ban all abortion some day we will see the same problems they did back in the 50’s.

I do believe they should teach sex education in Schools, there are many parents who think not talking to there kids about this subject is best. Also, parents who are uncomfortable or just don’t know how to talk about it with their kids. I was never told anything; I was clueless to sex education and birth control. The more education the less teen mothers there will be. I had my first child at 22, not too young but still pretty young. Yes I ended up marrying him a couple years later and divorced a couple years after that.
citymouse read my blog view my photos
Apr 28, 2007 | 8:37 PM

Why can you and other people write these big long posts but mine get cut off? I'm confused.
truetexan read my blog view my photos
Apr 28, 2007 | 10:34 PM

Citymouse it's called"cut,copy and paste".
citymouse read my blog view my photos
Apr 28, 2007 | 10:53 PM

What do you mean? I spell check usually on microsoft word and the paste it in here, but I get cut off and have to post the rest.

Am I missing something here?? :)
Relentless read my blog
Apr 29, 2007 | 12:40 PM

citymouse, thank you for your response. I personally agree that I cannot comprehend the circumstances under which anyone would choose to abort an 8-month pregnancy.

As for the post length, there seems to be no character limit on the length of the original post - only in responses to it. On other blogs, I've had to cut my response in half and post each half consecutively to get the whole thing posted.
citymouse read my blog view my photos
Apr 29, 2007 | 3:31 PM

She had no reason to do it; she just decided she didn't want it. sickening. And why would any Doctor agree to do such a thing? I hope he lost his license! I saw her a few years ago, she told me she had a baby that died after birth, she had a son that was with her, hopefully she’s a better mother than her sister. Her sister (who we also used to hang out with) had 2 girls who she left to live with someone who wasn't even family, she abandoned them and they were about 6 -8 yrs. old. I think she had a son too. I remember when she was pregnant she was saying she didn't even want a kid!

These sisters grew up with a step-dad who molested them. They had a messed up family life, there were 5 of them. I don't know how the others turned out.

I haven't seen them in years but I do still hear things about them. It's just terrible how someone could care so little about their own children!
Relentless read my blog
Apr 30, 2007 | 3:31 AM

Citymouse, while it is still unfathomable to me what circumstances would lead a woman to abort an 8-month pregnancy for no reason - nor why ANY physician would agree to perform such a procedure - the rest of this girl's story leads me to wonder what else was going on for this young woman. All I can imagine is the power of denial kept her from accepting the pregnancy for what it was; perhaps the stepfather had "gotten to her" again and was the father, or perhaps she knew something about the baby that was so disturbing, she simply couldn't bring herself to admit or discuss it. Never having stood in her shoes, I can only guess. It is a tragedy any way you look at it.

I did want to add, however, that I disagree with the argument that so many childless couples out there want babies, it is selfish to abort a pregnancy. To me, that's kind of like saying there are so many bald men out there who would give anything for hair, it's wrong for men WITH hair to get haircuts and just let that wanted hair drop to the ground.

Weak analogy, but hopefully, it illustrates that the two situations cannot be compared as a blanket argument against whether or not an individual should have the right to make choices based on their own very personal and private reasons and situation - none of which they owe an explanation for to everyone who may be interested or curious.
Relentless read my blog
Apr 30, 2007 | 3:47 AM

I've very thankful that EC is now available and an option. May our daughters never have to go through what some of us have had to agonize over because of a violent assault, incestuous abuse, or any of the myriad circumstances under which this heart-breaking decisions has had to be made.

In a perfect world, none of this would ever be an issue. It is, though, and a very real and immediate issue for thousands of women. I hope that some day, each woman's right to decide for herself what is best for her is left the private issue it is between herself and her healthcare provider.
aaronl1369 read my blog
Apr 30, 2007 | 8:22 AM

Don't want a baby? Don't spread your legs!
Relentless read my blog
May 1, 2007 | 11:54 AM

Good call, aaron. Be sure to share that nugget of brilliance with a woman *you* love (Mom, sister, or whomever) to comfort her after she's been raped. I'm sure she'll appreciate your understanding and support - and what a GREAT solution to the possible pregnancy (resulting from the rape) she'll be facing as more than a theoretical concept, but a reality.
Page 1 of 1


Write your comment below:




Relentless

I live my life by one very simple philosophy: make a difference where and when you can; otherwise, do no harm. Firm supporter of U.S. and allied troops, Patriot Guard Rider, and proud parent of a U.S. Soldier. As they say, "Your position on war has nothing to do with it. Stand behind your troops, or step in front of them." I respect and welcome constructive criticism and differing opinions, so by all means, "Be statin' but don't be hatin'."

Member Since: 3/11/2007


 

RSS: XMLWhat is RSS?