Trent Franks' Abortion Bill Now Includes Rape Exception, Thanks to Bone-Headed Comment | Valley Fever | Phoenix | Phoenix New Times | The Leading Independent News Source in Phoenix, Arizona
Navigation

Trent Franks' Abortion Bill Now Includes Rape Exception, Thanks to Bone-Headed Comment

Anti-abortion fanatic/Congressman Trent Franks' bone-headed argument that a "very low" number of rapes result in pregnancies ended up being a losing argument.Franks' bill banning abortions past 20 weeks of pregnancy has since been changed, exempting victims of rape and incest.See also:-Franks: Not Many Rapes Result in Pregnancy-Franks Submits Another Abortion...
Share this:

Anti-abortion fanatic/Congressman Trent Franks' bone-headed argument that a "very low" number of rapes result in pregnancies ended up being a losing argument.

Franks' bill banning abortions past 20 weeks of pregnancy has since been changed, exempting victims of rape and incest.

See also:
-Franks: Not Many Rapes Result in Pregnancy
-Franks Submits Another Abortion Bill
-Trent Franks on Gun Control: Abortion Is Bad
-Trent Franks' Abortion Obsession Goes International
-Trent Franks: Blacks Better Off Under Slavery Than With Abortion

"You know, before, when my friends on the left side of the aisle here tried to make rape and incest the subject -- because, you know, the incidences of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low," Franks said last week.

Franks initially claimed that his comments were "taken out of context," which wasn't really the case, but his spokesman later said that Franks "misspoke," and meant to say that the number of rapes that result in pregnancies and are aborted after 20 weeks is low.

While other Republicans eventually conceded the point about a rape exemption, it's not the initial one offered by Democrats, and it could also be construed as a reporting requirement as much as it is an exemption.

It exempts rape victims from the 20-week limit if the rape has "been reported at any time prior to the abortion to an appropriate law enforcement agency."

A whole lot of rapes don't get reported to police, so the bill is still a potential roadblock for pregnant rape victims.

Additionally, Franks reportedly will not be running the debate on the bill on the House floor, which is good for everyone, and might prevent Franks from announcing to the country that blacks are better off under slavery (again).

Send feedback and tips to the author.
Follow Matthew Hendley on Twitter at @MatthewHendley.


KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.