Airplanes and Abortion

The current pending legislation in Tennessee to ban abortions after the baby is 20 weeks old is opposed by several factions. One of the arguments cited is that nearly all of the abortions in Tennessee occur before the 16th week of gestation. Therefore the proposed ban is superfluous and extraneous. One might even postulate that it is similar to regulations in 1917 banning airplanes from flying  faster than 200 mph.

With all due respect and deference to our friends, some might recall that on the "same sex" discussion years ago a similar situation presented itself. When urged to propose and support a "one man, one woman" marriage amendment to the US Constitution, a Republican President demurred. He gave two reasons for his position. First, our society would never come to that point. For thousands of years marriage had been universally held to be between one man and one woman. That would not change.

His second argument was that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) already defines marriage and it will protect against any same sex incursions. Reconsider our 200 mph airplane.

Aero technology advancements and expertise soon enabled routine flying speeds far in excess of the supposed "speed limit." The same thing happened, metaphorically to the marriage debate. Unforeseen changes in societal norms overwhelmed even legislative barriers and the country was presented with a fait accompli.

Regardless of one's position on same sex marriage, it does not result in dead babies. The 20 week abortion ban presents a gruesome possibility. Should so-called "abortion technology" proceed to the point that later abortions may be effected, a prohibition regarding that is not a superfluous or extraneous backstop.

And as an aside, anecdotal evidence of post viability abortions are easily located in stories of survivors and mothers who now feel that they were violated by the process. It may be "rare" but, like an airliner crash, it is devastating to those involved.

Tennessee and all states should implement a 20-week limit to abortions.