Changed Utah Miscarriage Bill Passes
This weekend, the Utah Senate withdrew HB 12, the controversial bill that would make mothers who miscarry because of “reckless behavior” eligible for homicide convictions. The bill’s sponsor, State Senator Carl Wimmer, changed the bill so that it now states that women who miscarry due to reckless behavior cannot be charged with homicide; however, women that intentionally cause miscarriages will still be eligible to be charged. The Governor of Utah is expected to sign the bill today.
It is important to note that this bill still could be dangerous, especially when compared to the Iowa case where a woman who passed out and fell down the stairs was accused of trying to cause an abortion due to previous feelings she’d once held.
We also wish that the Utah State Legislature had responded to the case that the bill sprouted from in a more common sense manner. It is a tragedy and travesty that a seventeen year old Utah girl decided to hire someone to beat her to cause a miscarriage. However, it is more of a tragedy that this young woman felt so trapped that she could not turn to her parents, consult a counselor, or any other trusted adult; instead, subjecting herself to a young man wielding a baseball bat against her and being hospitalized for it. It is our job, not as an organization, but as responsible Americans, to ensure that young women always have a safe place to turn to and have learned the vital skills needed if they are engaging in sexual activity. Hopefully, Utah legislators will come to see the light on this and work towards common sense goals to keep another case like this from appearing again.
