2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumUPDATED: Virginia GOP Nominee For AG Would Force Women To Report Their Miscarriages To Police
Last edited Tue May 21, 2013, 10:32 AM - Edit history (2)
If a woman in Virginia has a miscarriage without a doctor present, they must report it within 24 hours to the police or risk going to jail for a full year. At least, thats what would have happened if a bill introduced by Virginia state Sen. Mark Obenshain (R) had become law.
And yet, the Virginia Republican Party wants to make Obenshain into the states top prosecutor. This weekend, Virginia Republicans selected Obenshain as their nominee to replace tea party stalwart Ken Cuccinelli (R) as the states attorney general.
Under Obenshains bill, which was introduced in 2009,
When a fetal death occurs without medical attendance upon the mother at or after the delivery or abortion, the mother or someone acting on her behalf shall, within 24 hours, report the fetal death, location of the remains, and identity of the mother to the local or state police or sheriffs department of the city or county where the fetal death occurred. No one shall remove, destroy, or otherwise dispose of any remains without the express authorization of law-enforcement officials or the medical examiner. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Under Virginia law, a Class 1 misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and a fine of not more than $2,500, so Obenshains bill could lead to a woman who decides to take a day to grieve the loss of a pregnancy shed hoped to carry to term spending a year of her life in jail for that decision.
-snip-
full article
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/05/20/2035411/virginia-gop-nominee-for-attorney-general-would-force-women-to-report-their-miscarriages-to-police/
---------------------------------------
Update:
Jared Walczak, a Deputy Campaign Manager with Obenshain for Attorney General, provided a statement to ThinkProgress explaining his boss support for this legislation. The statement is copied below, with an added link to a news story Walczak identified as the law enforcement issue prompting the legislation:
At the request of one of his local Commonwealths Attorneys, Senator Obenshain carried legislation (SB 962 of 2009) dealing with a specific law enforcement issue. As sometimes happens, the legislation that emerged was far too broad, and would have had ramifications that neither he nor the Commonwealths Attorneys office ever intended. Senator Obenshain is strongly against imposing any added burden for women who suffer a miscarriage, and that was never the intent of the legislation. He explored possible amendments to address the bills unintended consequences, and met with representatives of both Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice in an attempt to identify a solution. Ultimately, however, he was not satisfied that any amendment could sufficiently narrow the scope of the bill to eliminate these unintended consequences, so he had the bill stricken at his own request.
Obenshains bill was indeed stricken at request of patron as Walczak states.
###
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/05/20/2035411/virginia-gop-nominee-for-attorney-general-would-force-women-to-report-their-miscarriages-to-police/
COLGATE4
(14,732 posts)to the screeching harpy Kate Obenshain who graces so many TV shows as the 'republican voice'?
sharp_stick
(14,400 posts)from wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Obenshain
"The Virginia Tech undergrad, and Washington & Lee law school grad is the son of former Virginia Republican Committee Chairman Richard D. Obenshain and the brother of another past Chairman, Kate Obenshain."
COLGATE4
(14,732 posts)KansDem
(28,498 posts)I would think a doctor would be notified, or paramedics, and a trip to the hospital or doctor's office to make sure there is no bleeding or other dangerous after-effects.
I wouldn't be so quick to call the police...
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)A lot of times it is mistaken for a very painful men steal cycle. Dr.s are not always needed.
LonePirate
(13,431 posts)This is more of the do as I say not as I do crap from Republicans.
In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)onehandle
(51,122 posts)Register.
Vote.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)leave Virginia.
illegaloperation
(260 posts)What that shows is defeat
Brigid
(17,621 posts)I think leaving is an act of sheer self-preservation, and an act of protest. What state really wants to gain a reputation as a place for women to avoid at all costs?
DCKit
(18,541 posts)Chooch wants to outlaw bjs.
If we can't fight him on that alone, then we're as stupid as they are.
BlueDemKev
(3,003 posts)...that Justices Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, and Samuel Alito would all side with him (and possibly Roberts and Kennedy as well).
dsc
(52,166 posts)LiberalFighter
(51,084 posts)meow2u3
(24,772 posts)Criminalizing miscarriage is a miscarriage of justice. Period. End of discussion.
DCKit
(18,541 posts)God talks to them, directly. They know what he wants.
It's why they all own black labs - to channel the diety.
meow2u3
(24,772 posts)they're now looking to play God by criminalizing what a woman can't control: miscarriages.
Beacool
(30,251 posts)They all sound as they belong in another century.
Listen asshat, stay out of my womb and I will refrain from giving you a prostrate exam with the tip of my stiletto shoes.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)just the resurgence of religion in this country since 1980.
Samantha
(9,314 posts)continues to live in Virginia. Evacuate now.
Sam
illegaloperation
(260 posts)Virginia is moving to the left and there are chances of getting rid of these people.
Just vote!
nineteen50
(1,187 posts)have to report all his colonoscopies.
Crunchy Frog
(26,630 posts)woman could potentially be an early miscarriage, maybe lots of women could start sending this guy their used feminine products so he can pick through them for possible remains.
CBHagman
(16,987 posts)A story in today's Washington Post suggests the GOP candidates' angle on the race is going to focus heavily on the abortion issue.
[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/va-politics/antiabortion-group-plans-to-use-virginia-races-as-template-for-2014-midterm-efforts/2013/05/20/503864ac-c17f-11e2-bfdb-3886a561c1ff_story.html[/url]
A leading antiabortion group plans to use Virginias 2013 statewide races as a strategic proving ground ahead of next years midterm elections, raising the stakes in a gubernatorial contest marked by heated debate over social issues.
The Susan B. Anthony List said in February that it would spend $1.5 million to boost Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II (R) in his gubernatorial race against businessman Terry McAuliffe (D). But the groups interest in the commonwealth goes beyond its pledge to Cuccinelli, a longtime abortion foe.
We have made Virginia a priority state for 2013, the SBA List says in its current business plan. We propose a massive investment there, seeking to make 2013 a template for wider victories in the mid-term elections in 2014.
cynzke
(1,254 posts)What they were trying to do through this bill was to catch whether the "miscarriage" was a natural occurring event ( or induced on purpose) and whether the fetus was capable of surviving outside the womb or whether the fetus was killed outside the womb on purpose. So, in other words, unless you made it to a hospital or attended by medical personnel, you are assumed to be possibly guilty of a crime and have to prove your innocence. Next they will want to know what caused the miscarriage. Was it something the mother did wrong???
aikoaiko
(34,183 posts)A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)Ilsa
(61,698 posts)the toilet. Yeah, literally, at 6+ weeks, I miscarried and the result was slimy, eggy discharge, a small red spot of blood. Nothing to keep, take a picture of, take to a funeral home.
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)typical of the GOP
Heather MC
(8,084 posts)I know let's just hang all women who miscarry their lil'gifts from God. Or we could call them witches and chop off their heads.
I feel like I went to sleep and woke up to find King Henry VIII was back in power
11 Bravo
(23,926 posts)The entire GOP ticket in VA is not just nuts, they are dangerous and fucking EVIL!