Indiana State Lawmaker: Women Seeking Abortions Could Falsely Claim Rape Or Incest

Eric Turner, a Republican state representative from Indiana, argued this week that a proposed amendment meant to add exceptions for rape and incest to a strict anti-abortion bill should not be considered because it would allow women to lie about cases of rape or incest in order to receive the procedure.

"I just want you to think about this, in my view, giant loophole that could be created where someone who could -- now i want to be careful, 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," Turner told his colleagues during a debate on HB 1210, a bill he introduced.

Turner's comments came in response to a proposal by State Rep. Gail Riecken (D), who brought forth a measure designed to scale back the legislation, which, if passed, would make Indiana one of the most restrictive states in the nation for abortion.

The eyebrow-raising contention didn't go over without controversy, however, as another Democratic colleague immediately stood to deliver an emotional testimony against Turner's claim.

Think Progress reports:

Outraged by Turner's allegation, state Rep. Linda Lawson (D) -- who spent six years as a sex crimes investigator for the Indiana police -- delivered an emotional rebuke. Describing her experience with both elderly and young children who had been raped, she forcefully informed Turner that "they don't make it up." "Women don't make this up! My Goodness!" she exclaimed. "This is the state of Indiana!"

Riecken's amendment to allow exemptions for women who became pregnant in cases of rape and incest was eventually voted down, 54-42. On Wednesday evening, the House voted 72-23 in favor of HB 1210, sending the bill to the Senate for a final vote. According to the Indianapolis Star, the fact that the Senate has already passed a similar anti-abortion bill makes it likely they will approve the House's version, which would send it to Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) to sign into law.

WATCH via Think Progress:

Comments

[serenety137]

04:31 PM on 04/28/2011

so i don't get it....i mean any women can lie and say that they are raped and stuff but not every women is going to go out there and do it.

[malgal]

07:06 PM on 04/03/2011

Now, what was that about big, intrusive government?

[Sean Wally]

04:25 PM on 04/01/2011

I need to know what are the anti-abortionist doing about the millions of childrens that are now living in proverty in the US. We cannot provide for those that are here now, but we intend to add more to the suffering and call ourself humane.
Ecclesiastes 6:3
3 A man might have a hundred children and live to be very old. But if he finds no satisfaction in life and doesn’t even get a decent burial, it would have been better for him to be born dead. 4 His birth would have been meaningless, and he would have ended in darkness. He wouldn’t even have had a name, 5 and he would never have seen the sun or known of its existence. Yet he would have had more peace than in growing up to be an unhappy man. 6 He might live a thousand years twice over but still not find contentment. And since he must die like everyone else—well, what’s the use?

[Killer1417]

06:08 PM on 04/01/2011

Don't worry. Rick Santorum is going to find them all jobs, so they can save Social Security.

[CBasilJr]

11:21 PM on 04/01/2011

To put it bluntly, NOTHING. Not a damn thing at all that makes any real difference.

State systems are not adequate to take good care of orphaned or unwanted children. Foster parents are often people who take advantage of the money made off the children while committing abuse and mistreat the children. There are people who adopt but they are a very small minority, especiallly when the child nears puberty or if the child has special needs.

There are people who care, but they are overwhelmed by the number of children.

Churches are infamous for doling out dribbles of case to apease their limited consciences. Various conservative movements and parties also like to do so for the beneficial affect that is engendered.

The reality is that the orphaned, abandoned, or unwanted child in America today leads the same sort of life as they did at the time of Dickens.

[serenety137]

04:35 PM on 04/28/2011

you are so right in what you said. i get where you're coming from. but does this mean people should result to abortion just to save these children from their future suffering?

[RichardWad]

04:17 PM on 04/01/2011

"...you know what Dr, on the other hand, maybe it was rape! or maybe even incest! uh, I don't know, it was spring break and I was drunk...so will this procedure be free or what? It's MY body!"

[Kara Kramer]

08:33 PM on 04/01/2011

So I take it you're pro rape then?
Or perhaps just a rapist.
'It's my body' isn't a punchine, it's a fact. And if you ignore that fact you're going to end up in jail.
(That's assuming you haven't been already, or aren't there right now)

[Gregor53]

08:29 AM on 04/02/2011

Not all males have such a view.  Does not understand that people actually pay for a service and those that can not afford it, would not be on Spring Break as there is no break from poverty.  Like Beck, they connnect the dots but there was no pattern in the dots in the first place.  Like a ink spot test, some can see just about anything their minds tell them.

[anitaj]

12:57 PM on 04/02/2011

"Mr. Wad" sounds like a frat boy. If so, he is fortunate to have led the kind of charmed life where daddy pays for his lawyers.

[RichardWad]

12:41 AM on 04/04/2011

I've seen sick, hysterical posts on here but that pretty much takes the grand prize. Get help. Now.

[RoofinReality]

03:05 PM on 04/01/2011

There is an assault on women that is unseemly.
They can't make decisions for themselves so gov't has to make it for them.
This is sad and AGAIN a reminder that voting (or not voting) has consequences.
So, I picture this woman in Indiana who hooks up with a US Rep who tells her that he isn't married.
He hides it well enough (at least better than Chris Lee of NY) and they start to have an affair.
She ends up pregant somehow and then it comes to light that he's married and won't leave his wife.

What is the woman to do?
BTW, wasn't there an Indiana US Rep who actually in the last couple of years had an affair and was found out?

[serenety137]

04:39 PM on 04/28/2011

there are many things a women can do. i mean....she doesn't have to go right away to get an abortion. its not the baby's fault. why not think it over more than just simply getting rid of it?

[RoofinReality]

05:56 PM on 04/28/2011

I don't disagree with that sentiment at all.
And, at the end of the week, or at the end of the month, she'll still realize that this US Rep won't help her.
In a mega church that I'm familiar with, one of the assistant pastors got a security guard pregnant. Guess what?
Yep, she was asked to leave, and he's still "preaching" at the same church.

All I'm saying is the woman knows what's best for her. And terminating a pregnancy (a beautiful gift from GOD) is NOT the first thing most women think about. Certainly not when she knows she's in position to fully support (mentally, physically, financially, spiritually, etc) that new baby.

[Jeanette DeBella Bogue]

02:51 PM on 04/01/2011

And if a man could get pregnant, abortion would be a god-given right.

[anitaj]

03:13 PM on 04/01/2011

If not a sacrament.

[anitaj]

01:33 PM on 04/01/2011

"I don't want to disparage in any way someone who has gone through the experience of a rape or incest." ---Rep. Turner

Too late.

[Gregor53]

08:32 AM on 04/02/2011

It is a verbal eraser.  It is interesting how some that are not even honest enough to admit they are going to insult you will first tell you, this is not an insult, but...  I will be honest.  This Representative has not honor or class. 

[anitaj]

12:51 PM on 04/02/2011

Where I grew up these comments sounded something like this:

"Well the poor boy was at the back of the line the day they were handing out brains. Bless his heart."

At which point one is obligated to put one's hand over one's heart in a feigned gesture of concern.

At this point I am having a difficult time voicing a "bless his heart" or a touch of the pearls for Rep. Turner and his misogynistic cronies.

[grata2ude]

01:01 PM on 04/01/2011

Why would any woman in her right mind vote for a Republican?

[annasophie1228]

12:37 PM on 04/01/2011

the assualt on women's health is infuriating. we are not property or chattel, buddy. i'm so sick of "legislating" over my rights, not to mention the fact that this man actually says that women will LIE about rape and incest?? i just simply cannot process how this level of ignorance gets elected.

[deans2cents]

10:40 AM on 04/01/2011

What human species elected this. ...homostupidien?

[Delia Huffman]

09:58 AM on 04/01/2011

I live in Indiana. The GOP who want the government to keep your hands off business. Don't want any laws to prevent them to damage the environment, and anything that stands in front of businesses making profits. Yet - they want to tell women what they can and can't do. I would like for every republican in the government to adopt a child who lives in a foster home, guardian home, and homeless. Take them into their homes and raise them. Let them be responsible for all these children. They like to make laws but don't want anything to do with the outcome of the laws. RIght now they want to run their agenda - 100% of their agenda on the 40% of the folks who didn't vote for them. What can we do?

[maruski]

10:21 AM on 04/01/2011

it's almost like they want to punish people for getting pregnant-- I'd believe that the stance has to do with the sacred life of the child if they simultaneously put in funding for a free pregnancy center in which the women would be cared for until the child was born, then put the children up for adoption. That would at least make sense.....

[donnabella]

10:31 AM on 04/01/2011

We can raise our collective voices in a boisterous cacophony, let them know "We're mad as h3//, & we're not going to take this anymore!"

Remember the old adage, "h3// hath no wrath like a woman scorned" ;-)

[Edward Standley]

09:38 AM on 04/01/2011

Signing this law will end any Presidential aspirations Mitch Daniels may have had.

[Will Rinaldi]

09:15 AM on 04/01/2011

Government has no place in the private doctors room. This is an invasion of personal liberties. If the senator is incapable of dealing with real issues he should just respectfully step down. These 'public servants' need to become more innovative in dealing with real issues and less with imposing their ideology.

[DEMatHEART]

07:38 AM on 04/01/2011

If Rep. turner were a woman, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

It's this lack of empathy, and imposition of one's own ideological hangups that forces such repressive laws through. Is Indiana ready to handle to the burden of the children who are born because of this law?

Probably not. Turner seems to be pro-BIRTH, not pro-life. Once the kids are born, I'll bet he'll wash his hands of any state responsibility for their welfare - because of "budget cuts."

[CaliHoosier]

09:05 AM on 04/01/2011

Fanned. I live in Indiana and I couldn't have said this better. The answer to your question, NO Indiana cannot handle the burden of these unwanted children, neither would the leadership of this state bother to make an effort, they only care about children BEFORE they are born. Children of this state suffer from low education standards, weak social services and an corporate minded administration which cares more about tax breaks for businesses than making sure our children have what they need to grow into successful, productive members of society. Their attitude toward the needs of children perpetuates the "welfare state" they so revile.

[Delia Huffman]

10:16 AM on 04/01/2011

I also live in Indiana. The GOP doesn't live near the children who will be born from a women or child being raped. Or the child who has been raped by a family member. Why aren't they spending quality time with low income children who can barely read or write. Why would they do that? Out of sight out of mind. If they don't believe in killing a life than how can they put to death a murderer? A life is a life. You can't make any exceptions but for someone reason killing someone - can be an exception. Taking a life is taking a life. What is their answer to that? They don't have an answer.

Who told them that life starts at inception? Where do they come up with these special rules. Everyone has their own opinion about abortion. My issue is that people who are not related to me, who don't know me are telling me how to run my life.

THE GOP is always hands off businesses. But when it comes to womens rights - they want to tell women what to do. Businesses can pollute the water and cause cancer in children, but the GOP would stand up for the business.

Let the women in the chambers vote - and the men stand on the side line.

[Kara Kramer]

08:34 PM on 04/01/2011

He seems pro-rape.

[donnabella]

06:52 AM on 04/01/2011

BREAKING NEWS

T-baggers set sites on repealing the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote. When asked why, T-baggers scoffed, "if Gawd had meant for women to have the vote, He would have created Adam & Eve as equals. Because He created Adam first, Eve definitely isn't equal, therefore women are inferior to men. It's the men who are the deciders!"

[Bluelynx]

10:19 AM on 04/01/2011

Adam was only a rough draft.

[oldgrendel]

10:44 AM on 04/01/2011

Good one and fanned. Still laughing!

[Gregor53]

08:41 AM on 04/02/2011

But Adam was made out of dust.  Eve on the other hand was made from a rib.  Go the the grocery and see the value of each.  I would imagine that the dust is much more inferior to the ribs.