Nobody said it would be fun.
Posted on 03/01/2006 6:20:47 AM PST by Cagey
BOISE, Idaho (Reuters) - Pregnant mothers caught using illegal drugs could go to prison for endangering their unborn children under a bill passed by the Idaho State Senate on Tuesday.
"The first thing we're after is a drug-free baby," said State Sen. Denton Darrington, a Republican who said his eastern Idaho district is plagued by methamphetamine use. "Meth is a problem everywhere in the state of Idaho."
If the measure passes the Idaho House and receives the approval of Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, a Republican, the measure would be the first in the United States specifically to make it a crime for a pregnant woman to use illegal drugs.
If caught, individuals could first face drug treatment or drug court. Beyond that, however, judges have the option of sending mothers to jail for up to five years or imposing a $50,000 fine.
Women's health advocates say the proposed law is a recipe for more unhealthy mothers and, therefore, children.
"If you want to hurt babies, you pass this law," said Lynn Paltrow, the executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women. "Drug abuse is a health problem. Health care in prisons is hideous."
About one baby per month is delivered on average in the Pocatello, Idaho women's prison, said Darrington, and he conceded more babies could be born in prisons if his bill becomes law. "We don't know what the cost would be of delivering drug babies," the lawmaker said.
Opponents of the bill, which passed on an 18-16 vote in the Idaho Senate, said the law would discourage pregnant mothers from seeking treatment if they had used drugs.
"It would be the first frontal assault on infant health we've seen in a long time," Paltrow said.
But aborting them is okay?
What's wrong with trying to save babies?? Beacause aborting them is a much better idea...(sarcastic)!!
Whowowowowowo Hypocrisy alert!
Nobody said it would be fun.
But making babies you can't take care of is OK? I'm not sure this is the correct response a Christian society should have to this problem. It "feels" good at the moment, but is it moral and sane?
God Bless Idaho
If you plan on doing drugs while pregnant, go ahead and kill it so there isn't a question of harming an unborn fetus. It's only the ones that are going to be born that is the problem.
George Orwell, call your office.
make it a crime for a pregnant woman to use illegal drugs
?
so does that mean it's not a crime now ?
WRONG. Drug abuse is a CRIME problem and the result of committing the crime is a health impact. Yes it should be treated but the crime should also be prosecuted... in every case. Drug addiction is drug possession.
From http://www.advocatesforpregnantwomen.org/:
"Our mission is to secure the human and civil rights, health, and welfare of pregnant and parenting women while protecting children from punitive and misguided state policies. We advocate on behalf of all women, especially those who are most marginalized: women of color, low-income women, and women who use drugs."
I have nothing more to add except this Idahoan would prefer if people in New York would mind their own business.
Especially people who think using drugs while pregnant qualifies you as a minority.
Yup. Drug a fetus, go to jail. Shoot a fetus, go to jail. Beat a fetus, go to jail. Abort a fetus and celebrate "reproductive rights".
Makes no sense.
Not the government's business.
Agreed.
SAY WHAT???
Jailing pregnant women for tobacco and alcohol use should follow quickly; both cause much more problem to unborn babies than do the "recreational" drugs. (Maybe even second-hand smoke.)
Of course, women will avoid these problem by not getting pre-natal care.
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