Another elected white guy in another conservative state has come up with another attempt to curb abortions. Rep. Justin Humphrey of Oklahoma has introduced a bill that would require women to obtain permission from the father in order to get an abortion.

Bills like this have already been struck down by the courts, but Humphrey does not let that slow him down. He is very committed to his belief that the woman is merely the “host”; once she so irresponsibly becomes pregnant, so she no longer has any bodily autonomy. Funnily enough, nothing is mentioned about how irresponsible the other participant in this tango is.

Ultimately, [Humphrey] said, his intent was to let men have a say. “I believe one of the breakdowns in our society is that we have excluded the man out of all of these types of decisions,” he said. “I understand that they feel like that is their body,” he said of women. “I feel like it is a separate — what I call them is, is you’re a ‘host.’ And you know when you enter into a relationship you’re going to be that host and so, you know, if you pre-know that then take all precautions and don’t get pregnant,” he explained. “So that’s where I’m at. I’m like, hey, your body is your body and be responsible with it. But after you’re irresponsible then don’t claim, well, I can just go and do this with another body, when you’re the host and you invited that in.” (Vox)

This all comes down to the same question that has divided “pro-life” (pro-birth) and “pro-choice” advocates for years: when does life begin? Does a woman have full rights over her body while she is pregnant, or is the man entitled to half? This bill would allow the man and the government to force the woman to give birth.





I have so many questions about this, not the least of which is what the living hell is this guy smoking? And does Oklahoma have some major excess of cash laying around? This is not the first bill they have passed. Last year the governor vetoed a bill making it a felony for doctors to perform abortions, and not because she thought it was ridiculous. She did so because she knew it would be struck down by the courts.

This game the states keep playing trying to get a bill to the Supreme Court thinking they will somehow get Roe overturned is more than absurd and a little amusing. A lot of money is expended, along with time. But also, every time something like this is discussed, I think women lose a little bit of respect and equality. Go back and read what this elected official is actually saying about women. He would do well in the 1950’s.

Oklahoma is considering a second bill to prevent “discrimination” against fetuses with abnormalities. The same law was struck down when Indiana did it; unfortunately it does not seem to be slowing them down at all.

I go back to the traumatic time I was forced to watch the video of an abortion in middle school. It did not have the intended effect, at least not long-term. It did make me realize this is an incredibly difficult decision that should be between a woman and her doctor. If the man has earned a place in that conversation, even better. But that is up to the woman, not the government.