Keep Reproductive Choices in Women's Hands: ACT NOW!

Rep. Carl Wimmer's HB 12 unnecessarily attempts to control pregnant women's behavior and choices

Rep. Wimmer has introduced, HB 12, "Abortion Amendments," an attempt to close a so-called "abortion loophole," but which in fact has the potential to affect the thousands of Utah women and families who get pregnant every year.

The ACLU of Utah urges you to take STRONG ACTION to help us defeat this measure. HB 12 will be heard by the House Health and Human Services Committee SOON - likely this week. If your representative serves on this committee, we urge you to please contact that individual and ask them to vote AGAINST HB12. If your representative does not serve on this committee, we ask that you contact them to express your view, in the likelihood that the bill is passed out of this committee.

Find your legislator HERE: http://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp

How will this bill affect pregnant women?
How will this bill affect women who use substances - even moderate amounts of alcohol - while pregnant?
How will this bill affect women who experience miscarriage?
How will this bill affect midwifes, doulas, and even family members?

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove (R), Vice Chair rmenlove@utah.gov Rep. Paul Ray (R), Chair pray@utah.gov Rep. Phil Riesen (D) priesen@utah.gov

Rep. Trisha S. Beck (D) tbeck@utah.gov Rep. Stephen E. Sandstrom (R) ssandstrom@utah.gov Rep. Bradley M. Daw (R) bdaw@utah.gov

TALKING POINTS:

• HB 12 could potentially criminalize any number of harmless activities undertaken by pregnant women, which activities could be seen by someone else as endangering a pregnancy.


• HB 12 increases the threat of prosecution for pregnant women who are struggling with addiction, creating a painful DISincentive for these women to seek rehabilitative treatment or prenatal care.


• HB 12 could unnessesarily target women who miscarry, with no ill intent and/or through no fault of their own.


• By accepting as legal only pregnancy losses that occur under the direction of a physician, HB12 could result in midwives or doulahs being charged with "killing" or "attempted killing."

The Constitution grants the government its power and the Bill of Rights restricts that power and guarantees individual rights and liberties. The ACLU of Utah works to ensure that our government respects these limits.

This Action Alert was sent by the ACLU of Utah Union, 355 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84103