Source: nprillinois.org 9/14/21
Two weeks after Texas effectively banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a Democratic state lawmaker in Illinois is proposing a law based on Texas’ model — but turned on its head.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), who in 2019 sponsored law defining abortion as a fundamental right in Illinois, is introducing a bill dubbed the “EXpanding Abortion Services Act,” the acronym of which spells TEXAS.
The Texas law is uniquely designed, allowing private citizens the right to bring a civil lawsuit against anyone who performs an abortion, gets an abortion or aids in someone getting an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. Opponents of the law have described the minimum $10,000 in damages up for grabs as a “bounty.”
Cassidy’s proposal instead would instead give Illinoisans the right to seek at least $10,000 in damages against anyone who causes an unwanted pregnancy — even if it resulted from consensual sex — or anyone who commits sexual assault or abuse, including domestic violence.
“…give Illinoisans the right to seek at least $10,000 in damages against anyone who causes an unwanted pregnancy — even if it resulted from consensual sex…”
What the actual F***?!?!?!?!?!?!
I hope this legislator is only presenting this bill sarcastically to punctuate the absurdity of the Texas law. I had to laugh at the consensual sex provision. Would this only apply to men, or could the woman be sued for ovulating and causing an unwanted pregnancy? Really, this can’t be a serious bill.
Veritas.
I would oppose this law on the simple basis that it does not go far enough. How many times must we hear about from friends, or from the media, or witness for ourselves individuals who are wholely unsuited to meet the burdens and carry out the responsibilities inherent in being a parent??? No, I am not joking. If SCOTUS allows the new Texas Anti-Abortion Law to stand, State’s should begin enacting laws that REQUIRE prospective parents to take classes and pass a test in order TO BE LICENSED to reproduce and raise children.
Why wouldn’t such laws be reasonable and appropriate??
The state where NARSOL is hosting it’s annual conference, the state where citizens have free rein to sue and abuse women who get an abortion, the state where there are no gun laws, the state where the white racist politicians are doing everything they can to hurt those of color from voting, the state where every ICU bed is full because the gov is trying to kill people rather than prevent them from getting covid. Texas sucks.
Towards the bottom of the full newspaper article is this little passage:
“Ralph Rivera of Illinois Right to Life Action didn’t find Cassidy’s bill very funny, though he did say he would be on board for legalizing bounties for rapists…Otherwise, he speculated some of the broader strokes in the bill might be found unconstitutional”.
But putting bounties on sex offenders? Well, to him, that’s constitutional. May he and all other right-wing extremists rot in hell.
These folks are in need of bounty.
This is the insanity you get when a bad idea gains momentum. We all know how that worked! Copy and paste laws require ZERO creativity or educational background to pass. Ironically, usually constituents with low education and absent of critical thinking skills are the ones that are easily swayed and duped.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I am actually really loving these idiotic laws. They will expose the abuses of civil penalties and how they’re an end-around on the Constitution. I say bring them all on! Let’s come up with as many horrible, oppressive, BS “civil” laws we can in order to achieve some sort of change! The more the everyday American is burdened or at risk, the better.