What do you call a state (excuse me -- Commonwealth) whose legislature in one month advances laws allowing unlimited purchases of handguns, declares the rights of personhood from the moment a sperm and egg unite and forces all women seeking abortions to first have an invasive, unnecessary medical procedure? Why, Virginia of course. Oh, and lest I forget, we can lay claim to the highest total of state-sanctioned executions of any state in the Union at 1,384. Color me proud.
For those of you keeping score, our newly Republican supermajority -- including our governor -- appears to condone killing fully grown people but is determined to ensure that the women of Virginia not be allowed to use certain forms of contraceptives for fear it will prevent the formation of pre-born people. And clearly they are concerned that women are too dumb to realize what an abortion is, so they are mandating trans-vaginal ultrasounds. Have you ever had one of these? They are not entirely pleasant and they are certainly medically unnecessary. The only reason to require one for a woman seeking an abortion is to show her there is a fetus inside her womb. Duh... I think that's why she is seeking an abortion.
So let's recap again. The party that is seeking to get government out of our lives by, for instance, allowing an unlimited number of gun purchases, is inserting itself into the reproductive lives of women. Long before there was a United States of America, Virginia hosted the future nation's very first execution in 1608. And as attorney general, Governor Bob McDonnell supported expanding the death penalty to participants in a homicide other than the "triggerman."
Confused? Life and death in the Commonwealth of Virginia appear to have different value depending upon who is making the decision. If you want to load up on guns and wear one on your hip as you're chugging beers at a Virginia tavern, go ahead. It's a right for the "law-abiding" citizens of Virginia, presumably even for the pre-born once personhood is conferred upon them. Unsure what to get the mother-to-be? How about a sporty little firearm for Junior? Sure, the chance exists that he may end up in the electric chair down in southern Virginia, but let him have some fun with guns before then.
We may have the right to bear arms, but we have the duty to bear children. With contraceptives and abortion being effectively outlawed, I'm guessing our borders will swell with little ones. Babies everywhere -- because many times sexual activity results in pregnancy. Without easy access to birth control, lots of people will be having babies who likely can't afford to care for them or maybe don't want to. But I'm sure the legislature is already planning for how to fund more and larger schools. Maybe they're even revising the sexuality education curriculum to ensure that it's comprehensive. Of course girls will need remedial classes as it is clear legislators think we don't understand conception or fetuses.
I am so grateful that my 19-year-old daughter chose not to attend a Virginia university. It was worth paying out of state tuition to know that she is someplace where her rights are safeguarded and where, presumably, she is trusted to make good decisions. I can only hope that each member of the Virginia legislature -- as well as Governor McDonnell -- are forced to undergo a medically unnecessary and invasive trans-anal ultrasound performed by a technician wearing a holstered handgun before they are allowed to pass these bills into law. A little rough justice for all.
Follow Tamar Abrams on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@Tamarabrams
Miss Abrams: You have a right to exercise your rights, or you can choose not to. The fact that you distance yourself from gun owners and demand that we keep our civil rights(that you find distasteful) 'away from me please.' leaves me puzzled.
I don't like abortions. Do you want me to tell you or other women to 'keep away from me'?
It seems pretty clear your tolerance for other peoples freedoms is much less than that you expect from them.
Hello pot.......
"...they are mandating trans-vaginal ultrasounds."
That is a false statement. The author clearly should be informed on the topic, so it is probably a deliberate lie for propaganda value in support of her agenda. Having actually read the bill, it does not specify the type of ultrasound, merely stating:
"The ultrasound image shall be made pursuant to standard medical practice in the community...".
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+ful+HB462H1+pdf
According to the NIH website:
"Transvaginal ultrasound is a type of pelvic ultrasound. It is used to look at a woman's reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, cervix, and vagina. Transvaginal means across or through the vagina."
"This test can be used during pregnancy."
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003779.htm
"This test can be used during pregnancy." This would suggest the test is normally not used for fetal ultrasound "...pursuant to standard medical practice in the community".
Be advised, I disagree with the proposed law. Abortion is legal and there is no legal reason to impose unnecessary qualifiers on a legal activity. If we are not made to look at photos of diseased organs when buying alcohol or cigarettes, or corpses prior to obtaining a drivers license, then what is the legitimate lawful purpose of this requirement?
The substance of the article clearly shows that it was. There was no reason to mention guns at all. The required ultra sound law is bad enough that it can be denounced without demonizing guns or gun owners in the process. The fact that Miss Adams felt the need to pointlessly bash gun ownership while talking about a law that has nothing to do with guns is what made it "about us".
http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/059/143/Ohwow.jpg
I understand your opposition to the death penalty. As a champion of justice, I agree.
I'm confused about your position limiting a citizen's right to choose when to buy or where to carry his/her firearm. Is it your assertion that I would suddenly be turned into a dangerous criminal simply by eating dinner at a table near the bar in an Outback Steakhouse? On what would you base such a silly assumption?
If liberalism favors an expansive version of ALL of our rights, call me liberal. You, on the other hand, seem to only be supportive of certain documented liberties. Why?
No reason not to broaden both of them.
A state that gets half their laws right? (The former being the right law)
Repealing an arbitrary restriction on the practice of constitutional right does not promote killing anymore then repealing a restriction on the number of books that could be purchased would promote libel or repealing a restriction on the number of car purchases would promote Drinking and Driving.
Furthermore, carrying a firearm while intoxicated is already a crime under Virginia law.
It's a shame you felt the need to demonize gun rights in order to make your case against the ultrasound law, since all you ended up doing was undermining it. Gun rights and abortion rights should be supported, for the same reasons, and misinformation about either one does nothing to promote either cause.
We need more of your honor ... in everything, anywhere.