If you live in the States, you've likely seen the news that Bobby Franklin, a House Republican in Georgia, has introduced a bill in that state that would nullify Roe v. Wade and require law enforcement to investigate miscarriages as suspected acts of "prenatal murder."
Because a miscarriage itself isn't traumatic enough.
As wild and outrageous as I think Mr. Franklin's bill is, it makes me wonder: how far might this go? I don't believe this bill will pass (please God) but if it did, what about mothers like me who give birth to a dead baby who appears outwardly normal? What if you are among the 50-60% of parents whose baby is stillborn for reasons unknown?
Will they come for you?
Ben died because of a knot in his umbilical cord, and I was so strangely grateful that I knew why he died. I can only imagine how much worse it would have been to not know the cause of his death. And I can only imagine how very, very much worse it would be if some legislator got the idea that maybe my child's stillbirth was prenatal murder and I needed to be investigated, maybe even charged with murder.
Sound far fetched? Yes, I think so too. But this legislation in Georgia is outrageous enough to make me believe it could happen. Or be considered. As Americans, can we accept this? As bereaved parents?
I can only assume Mr. Franklin has no idea what it means to have a miscarriage. I wonder if he has experienced real loss. I could rant about politics here, but I won't. But I wonder, whatever happened to compassion?
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2 comments:
Obviously he has no freaking idea what it means. And I can bet that no, he's never had a loss, or this would sound absurd to him too.
If they come for me, they will be met with the business end of my gun. Losing my babies was hard enough. I refuse to let the government try to punish me for it.
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