ABORTION: Herndon bill supports rapists over women

Never surprised in Idaho when our local reps look back to the 1800s for their abortion guidance. I do not need to go far to hear the real history of women who were victimized, raped, assaulted and now denied an abortion to deal with a crime against her bodily rights. Sen. Herndon has the audacity to refer to MLK and mix in the right to life of the fetus over the female victim. One criminal wrong cannot make forced pregnancy or rape right. A child born out of violence is a double crime against the mother and the child.

A quaint hearsay “Tell all Book” about two (only two?) forced rapes by the stepfather and first an abortion, then eventual birth from the second rape is an offense on multiple levels. For the underage teen victim her “cathartic birth” is a mental distortion to deal with her reality. Ongoing molestation and rapes of a child is a crime. This is a horror story and fails to support his case of babies at all cost.

Men talking, legislating or proselytizing about women’s bodily autonomy belongs in the 19th century. Enslavement of females to male sexual indiscretions is never justifiable.

Yet for Mr. Herndon, his example is support of the rapist, dominant male in a position of authority and “If at first you don’t succeed — try, try again.”

LYNN FLEMING

Coeur d’Alene