Albuquerque votes today on abortion ban after 20 weeks

[archibaldcrane]

So, the new tactic for anti-abortion activists is instead of working state legislatures for bans, they're going after municipalities. First target: Albuquerque, NM. Bans abortions in the city limits after 20 weeks except in cases where the mother's life is in danger. No exceptions made for the mother's health (if not life-threatening), nor for rape or incest or fetal non-viability.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/1...ational-trend/

The Supreme Court has long held that abortions could not be restricted before the point of fetal viability, which back then was around 24 weeks, but with medical improvements a very small percentage of fetuses are viable outside of the womb as low as 22 weeks. The shortest-gestation baby known to have survived were at 21 weeks and 5 days. 50% of fetuses are viable at 24 weeks.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._table.svg.png

In what could be a new strategy for anti-choice Christian groups, Albuquerque voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Under the new restrictions, doctors would not be able to perform so-called late-term abortions within the city limits. The measure provides exceptions for life of the mother, but it does not allow waivers in the case of rape or incest.
According to Reuters, recent opinion surveys suggested that public sentiment has swung against the initiative. But Research & Polling Inc. President Brian Sanderoff told the Albuquerque Journal that a low turnout was expected for the election.
“Other than Election Day, I think the second-most important day of this two-month campaign was last Sunday, yesterday, when many of the churches urged the faithful to vote in support of the ban,” Sanderoff said. “It’ll be interesting to see what happens on Election Day.”
The Respect Albuquerque Women campaign has released a series of videos explaining why it was important for women to retain the right to have abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
“We were ready to give our two year old a brother or sister. And everything with the pregnancy went pretty well until we went for our 20 week ultrasound,” a woman named Christie explains in one video. “My baby had a hole in her diaphragm. The stomach and the intestines, which are supposed to be down in the abdomen, were up in her chest cavity. This forced her heart over into her right armpit. And it forced her trachea and esophagus out of the middle of her chest. And the most important factor was that it prevented her lungs from developing.”
“I never thought I would ever need an abortion,” Christie says. “I could carry the baby to term and watch her suffocate or I could end the pregnancy early and let her go peacefully.”
According to RH Reality Check, activist groups targeted Albuquerque because the city has one of only four clinics in the country that perform abortions later in pregnancy. And if the effort succeeds, copycat measures are expected to start showing up on the ballot in other cities across the country.
“It is a new strategy,” Operation Rescue President Troy Newman pointed out to Reuters in September. “There is more than one way to close an abortion clinic.”
“If you can’t get anything done in a state legislature … you look at what is going on in a city. They say all politics is local. This is a great example of that.”

[Tarage]

Who waits 20 weeks?

[archibaldcrane]

Who waits 20 weeks?

For one, it's common to not know about a crippling disability/genetic defect in a fetus until then. Also, rape/incest victims clearly have a lot of shit going on, some women don't know they're pregnant for a few months, etc.

But the answer is very few women have abortions after 20 weeks, and those that do will sometimes have very good reasons for it. Given that the only 2 post-20-week abortion providers in New Mexico are in ABQ (and none are in Texas) - the clinics here are used by people from upwards of a thousand miles away who need post-20-week abortions, and without that access their options will be even more limited simply by geography.

[quannum]

Who waits 20 weeks?

women who can't just get up and drive 150 miles to the nearest abortionplex, have to go through mandatory probing, psych evaluations, and fake danger lectures.

[Blubbartron]

women who can't just get up and drive 150 miles to the nearest abortionplex, have to go through mandatory probing, psych evaluations, and fake danger lectures.

This. People don't seem to realize that each new hurdle is just compounding the effect of the fucking string of hurdles put between women and safe/proper healthcare.

[Abandon]

i thought this is what they make wire hangers for

[Charismatic]

i thought this is what they make wire hangers for

Or the FALCON ABORTION!

[archibaldcrane]

http://www.abqjournal.com/304288/new...omplaints.html

Shot down, 55% to 45%

[Salodin]

Why is that so close a vote? Was that for effect or are people really that bothered by what goes on in other peoples vaginas?

[archibaldcrane]

I think late-term abortion is generally unfavorable nationwide at around a 45% clip - combine that with a low turnout and the anti-abortion crowd being much more inspired and active than the generally passive abortion supporters, I think it's a pretty solid win.

[Drex]

Was that for effect or are people really that bothered by what goes on in other peoples vaginas?

I assume you're being intentionally obtuse but in case not: is it really difficult for you to understand that people disagree on what should and should not be a choice vs mandatory? That's pretty much what all political debate boils down to. You don't have to agree with a position to understand the logic behind it, and allowing abortions is a very defensible position without trying to make it about sexism.

[Lucavi]

Why is that so close a vote? Was that for effect or are people really that bothered by what goes on in other peoples vaginas?

God.

[Ashmada]

You don't have to agree with a position to understand the logic behind it, and allowing abortions is a very defensible position without trying to make it about sexism.

I'd hardly call "mah religion sez no abortion for j00!" logic.

[Correction]

Why is that so close a vote? Was that for effect or are people really that bothered by what goes on in other peoples vaginas?

Alburquerque is pretty purple
http://i.minus.com/ibRzaer6pDq4W.png

Brown people also tend to vote against abortion (see their support of Prop 8 in California for a parallel on gay rights) because god or something, so that closes the gap further from when they might normally vote democratic on issues like labor rights and immigration reform.