Louisiana Lawmakers Approve Ban on D&X Abortions

Because Louisiana, home to New Orleans, really doesn’t have anything more pressing to deal with, lawmakers have just passed a bill that would ban so-called “partial birth” abortions. The procedure is properly known as D&X.

The state ban follows a 5-4 decision that the nation’s highest court issued April 18 in Gonzales vs. Planned Parenthood. The decision affirmed a 2003 federal ban on the procedure, which also contains a life exception, but no health exception.

Nevers’ bill would give state law enforcement officials a method to police the procedure, which is estimated to account for about 300 to 400 of the 11,000 to 12,000 abortions that occur each year in Louisiana. Without a state law, the procedure would still be prohibited but only federal authorities would have standing to enforce the ban.

Both the federal prohibition and the proposed state law target abortion providers, while leaving a woman seeking an abortion immune from prosecution. Under the Nevers measure, a physician providing the procedure would face one to 10 years in prison and a fine ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.

Now we have to wait to see if the anti-abortion Governor signs it.

Here’s the thing that confuses me: if D&Xs are so fucking cruel and heinous and “murderous,” and certainly not conducted for health reasons, in this insane view, why are only doctors ever penalized? I certainly do not promote sentences for women who seek late-term abortions, I’m just pointing out the logical inconsistency. What, we punish the “hit-man” and not the woman who hired him or her? Doesn’t make sense.

Unless of course they’re trying to create fear in the abortion doctors’ community, and drive qualified physicians out of the field. Hmm.