On Wednesday, SFR reported on the controversial Woman’s Right to Know Act, which would require doctors to show and describe an ultrasound to the woman seeking an abortion [news, Jan. 23: “Fetal Position”]. That same day, Rep. Cathrynn N Brown, R-Carlsbad, introduced a bill (pdf here) that’s caused even more of an uproar than the Woman’s Right to Know Act (pdf).

           Brown claims that House Bill 206 was intended to make it a crime for a rapist to force his victim to have an abortion. However, the bill, a section of which reads, “Tampering with evidence shall include procuring or facilitating an abortion, or compelling or coercing another to obtain an abortion, of a fetus that is the result of criminal sexual penetration or incest with the intent to destroy evidence of the crime,” gives the impression that it is the victim—not the rapist—who is subject to felony charges.

As a result of a national outcry against HB206, Brown intends to rephrase the wording so that the bill clearly states that it is the rapist and not the victim of rape or incest who is to be charged with the felony, which is punishable by up to three years in prison.

Another abortion-related bill, House Bill 51, introduced by Alonzo Baldonado, R-Los Lunas, would prevent a minor from having an abortion until 48 hours after her parents/guardians receive written a notice.

At 1:30 pm today, Friday Jan. 25, pro-choice groups will rally at the Roundhouse to commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade; visit nowsantafe.org for more information.