Tennessee Republicans block bill allowing abortion for pregnant children
In a recent House committee meeting, Tennessee Republicans blocked a bill that would have allowed children 12 and under who are pregnant to have an abortion. State Rep. Gloria Johnson argued that children should not be forced to carry a pregnancy, noting that the state law does not allow children under 13 to legally consent to sex. The bill sought to align with this law by allowing children 12 and under to terminate their pregnancy at any time.
The decision to block the bill comes after a recent poll showed that 77% of Tennessee voters support abortion in cases of incest or rape, regardless of political affiliation. Stories of children being impregnated by family members highlight the need for exceptions to strict abortion bans in the state. Advocates argue that individuals who are forced to become pregnant against their will should have the right to decide their own future.
However, state Republicans raised concerns about late-term abortions, fearing that the decision to terminate a pregnancy would come too late. Late-term abortions are rare, accounting for only about 1% of abortions nationally after 21 weeks. Advocates for reproductive rights argue that allowing exceptions for cases of rape, incest, and human trafficking is necessary to protect individuals who are victims of these heinous acts.
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