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A28 u.s. news
Diabierna 13 Mei 2022

Louisiana debates murder charge for women who get abortions

called it “patently unconsti-
There’s no indication yet that tutional.”
lawmakers in other states
are taking up similar legisla- Edwards joined critics of
tion. In Idaho, Republican the bill saying it criminalizes
state Rep. Heather Scott has some types of contraception
proposed prosecuting wom- and parts of the in vitro fertil-
en who get abortions, but ization process. McCormick
a committee chairman said on Thursday said forms of
Friday he would not allow contraception that don’t de-
it. “There are still reason- stroy a fertilized egg would
able people in the Legislature not be affected. And he dis-
who are going to ensure that putes that the bill would new-
extreme bills like that are not ly criminalize some aspects of
going to get a hearing,” Rep. in vitro fertilization, pointing
Brent Crane said. to state law that already grants
rights to an “in vitro fertilized
“In my committee, I’m not human ovum.”
going to hear that bill that
puts a woman on trial for Anti-abortion legislation
murder. If you’ll take that usually passes easily in Loui-
portion of the bill out, if siana’s Legislature but the
you’ll put the doctor on trial emphatic opposition from
for murder, which trues up some anti-abortion stalwarts
exactly with what we already could bolster attempts to de-
(AP) — Louisiana’s House “To suggest that a woman bill specifically, but said “any have in Idaho statutes, then rail the measure or heavily
of Representatives, ven- would be jailed for an abor- measure seeking to criminal- we can talk about having a amend it.
turing farther against tion is simply absurd,” Gov. ize or punish women is not hearing on your bill,” Crane
abortion than lawmakers John Bel Edwards, a devout pro-life and we stand firmly said on Idaho Public Televi- Louisiana already has laws
in any other state, is debat- Catholic and a Democrat opposed to such efforts.” sion. on the books criminalizing
ing a bill to make women who has long broken with abortion, including a “trigger
who end their pregnancies his party on the abortion is- McCormick disagrees, saying McCormick introduced his law” ensuring that it will be a
subject to criminal homi- sue, said in a news release a woman who has an abor- bill in March in an attempt crime if the Supreme Court
cide prosecutions. Wednesday. tion should be in the same le- to end abortion regardless of reverses the Roe vs. Wade,
gal position as a woman who what any court does. the 1973 ruling establishing
Republican Rep. Danny “Our longstanding policy takes the life of a child after abortion rights. The statutes
McCormick pushed for a is that abortion-vulnerable birth. “When I give equal In addition to rewriting ho- appear to exempt women
House floor debate on his bill women should not be treat- protection to the unborn, micide statutes to include from prosecution, although
Thursday afternoon despite a ed as criminals,” Louisiana that’s the possibility,” he abortion, it declares that any some abortion rights advo-
crescendo of opposition from Right to Life said in a state- said in a Wednesday evening federal law, regulation or cates have suggested they
traditional supporters of ment. phone interview. court ruling that allows abor- need tightening.
abortion rights and longtime tion is void and that any judge
foes of legal abortion. Loui- The Catholic bishops said McCormick’s bill has come who blocks enforcement of McCormick said the existing
siana’s anti-abortion gov- they are “unequivocally” op- under high scrutiny in light the bill’s provisions could be laws are inadequate to give
ernor said he’d veto it, and posed to the bill. And the of last week’s leak of a draft of impeached. fetuses equal protection un-
Louisiana Right to Life and National Right to Life Com- a U.S. Supreme Court opin- der law. “This is a debate we
the Louisiana Conference of mittee on Thursday issued ion indicating the high court Members of the commit- need to have in Louisiana,” he
Catholic Bishops are against an “open letter to the na- is preparing to overturn deci- tee that advanced the bill last said. “There are good people
it. tion’s state legislators” that sions upholding a constitu- week expressed doubt about on both sides of the debate.”
didn’t mention the Louisiana tional right to abortion. its constitutionality. Edwards

Army poised to revamp Alaska forces to prep for Arctic fight

(AP) — The U.S. Army pose of Army forces in Alaska lags behind those nations. based in Alaska. And the large encounter in any cold-weath-
is poised to revamp its is much more about creating Russia has taken steps to in- Stryker vehicles, which are er battle.
forces in Alaska to better an extreme cold weather ca- crease its military presence somewhat old, would be re-
prepare for future cold- pable formation” that could there, and China views the placed by other vehicles that “I think it really makes sense
weather conflicts, and it be used in Europe or the region as economically valu- are more suitable for the icy to have forces trained in the
is expected to replace the Indo-Pacific, Wormuth told able for shipping and natural and snowy terrain, Wormuth Arctic environments that
larger, heavily equipped The Associated Press on a resources. said. they would be used for,”
Stryker Brigade in the recent trip to Alaska to meet Wormuth said after spending
state with a more mobile with senior commanders and The changes in the Army The greater focus on cold- two days at the still snowy
infantry unit better suited troops. “We’re trying to get to were under consideration weather war includes a move base. “If we’re going to have
for the frigid fight, Army a place where we have Arctic well before U.S. tensions to conduct major training ex- ground forces in Alaska,
leaders say. capable forces — forces that with Russia soared following ercises for the Alaska-based that’s what we need them
can survive and operate in its invasion of Ukraine. troops in their home state, to be able to do. They can’t
Army Secretary Christine that environment.” under the weather conditions get that experience going to
Wormuth said she expects Under the new Army plan, they would face in an Arctic the Mojave Desert or to Fort
to make a final decision The U.S. has long viewed the 1st Stryker Brigade Com- fight. The troops had been Polk.”
soon about the Alaska troop the Arctic as a growing area bat Team, 25th Infantry Di- scheduled to go to the Joint
change, saying she will like- of competition with Russia vision, now based in Alaska, Readiness Training Center
ly convert the Stryker unit, and China, particularly as cli- would be converted to a light at Fort Polk, Louisiana, in
which uses heavy, eight- mate change brings warmer infantry brigade. Combined March, but Army leaders de-
wheeled vehicles, to an in- temperatures and opens the with the division’s 4th In- cided to keep them in Alaska
fantry brigade. sea lanes for longer periods fantry Brigade Combat team, so they could train under the
of time. But officials have the two units will become frigid temperatures and fro-
“I think right now the pur- acknowledged that the U.S. the 11th Airborne Division, zen terrain that they would