An Alabama Democratic lawmaker has a unique response to a recent law limiting abortion rights in the state: require men to undergo vasectomies either when they hit 50 or have three children.
Such would be the case under a new bill from Rep. Rolanda Hollis that was introduced on Thursday.
"Under existing law, there are no restrictions on the reproductive rights of men. This measure would require a man to undergo a vasectomy within one month of his 50th birthday or the birth of his third biological child, whichever comes first," the bill says.
The bill faces long odds in the Republican-controlled legislature, but Hollis told AL.com it's a statement in response to a near total abortion ban passed in the state last year that has been blocked by a federal judge. Republican-led states, emboldened by the conservative-majority Supreme Court and efforts by the Trump administration to roll back abortion protections, have pushed limitations to abortions in the last year.
I'm guessing this is one of those "statement bills", where it's designed to make a point and not really go anywhere (maybe?).
Based on what I understand about vasectomies, they serve 1 purpose: birth control.
So is her bill implying that a vasectomy is equivalent to an abortion?
I'm definitely not on board with that one.
A vasectomy (or any other form of human sterilization) prevents conception. An abortion stops the beating heart of an already conceived child.
2 totally different things.
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt