Tennessee to Criminally Charge Pregnant Women Who Use Drugs (1 Viewer)

[BigSteelThrill]

Governor Bill Haslam has signed a measure into law that will charge pregnant women who use drugs with harming their fetuses.

The governor’s approval of the legislation comes despite a massive outcry from reproductive rights and criminal justice groups across the country, who say that criminalizing pregnant women is the wrong policy approach. Threatening to bring charges against women who are struggling with substance abuse dissuades them from coming forward to seek the medical treatment they need. It’s also a policy that disproportionately harms low-income and non-white women.
“Today, the Tennessee governor has made it a crime to carry a pregnancy to term if you struggle with addiction or substance abuse,” Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, a staff attorney with the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, said. “This deeply misguided law will force those women who need health care the most into the shadows. Pregnant women with addictions need better access to health care, not jail time.”
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2014/04/29/tn-will-criminalize-moms-using-drugs-pregnant/8473333/

Welcome to Iran.

 

[Max Power]

I agree with the idea, but it looks like the execution needs work.

 

[Ditka Butkus]

I would like to charge them with murder if they abort a viable fetus without the consent of the dude who got them pregnant...unless they became pregnant by rape.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

When are legislators finally going to understand that tougher laws against drugs/drug use don't do a whole hell of a lot to stop drugs/drug use?

 

[eoMMan]

They have definitely been screwed.

 

[NutterButter]

Does the same law apply for alcohol?

 

[joffer]

Don't like it

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Does the same law apply for alcohol?

What % of pregnant women drink some alcohol?

 

[NutterButter]

Does the same law apply for alcohol?

What % of pregnant women drink some alcohol?

Uh, 27?

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Does the same law apply for alcohol?

What % of pregnant women drink some alcohol?

Uh, 27?

Sounds about right. Prison for all! Felons for life.

 

[trogg78]

Define "harming".

 

[NutterButter]

Does the same law apply for alcohol?

What % of pregnant women drink some alcohol?

Uh, 27?

Sounds about right. Prison for all! Felons for life.

Still seems silly to create a law that goes after the smaller of the two groups. Both groups are causing damage to the fetus.

 

[trogg78]

Does the same law apply for alcohol?

What % of pregnant women drink some alcohol?

Uh, 27?

Sounds about right. Prison for all! Felons for life.

Still seems silly to create a law that goes after the smaller of the two groups. Both groups are causing damage to the fetus.

How do you prove the fetus was harmed?

 

[NutterButter]

Does the same law apply for alcohol?

What % of pregnant women drink some alcohol?

Uh, 27?

Sounds about right. Prison for all! Felons for life.

Still seems silly to create a law that goes after the smaller of the two groups. Both groups are causing damage to the fetus.

How do you prove the fetus was harmed?

Good question. Give the governor a call.

 

[trogg78]

Can you arrest someone who eats mcdonalds everyday for harming their fetus?

 

[BigSteelThrill]

How do they "test" these pregnant women?

Just grab em off the street?

Retain them in Happy camps?

 

[Quez]

Watch out for the Poppy seed bagels

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3535513/

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Watch out for the Poppy seed bagels

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3535513/

exactly.

 

[mr roboto]

Before I respond, I need to know which response is the conservative one and which is the liberal one.

 

[msommer]

All kinds of stupid in that law.

 

[Max Power]

So how do you deter addicts from potentially ruining their child's life?

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Wait, shouldn't they be being charged for using drugs in the first place regardless of whether or not they're pregnant? I think that's where the McDonald's comparisons break down.

 

[timschochet]

What about the smokers?

 

[BigSteelThrill]

So how do you deter addicts from potentially ruining their child's life?

You can do this?

This law is about people trying to satisfy their own sensibilities, by forcing them upon others.

 

[Ilov80s]

So how do you deter addicts from potentially ruining their child's life?

Provide free no questions asked drug counseling/clinics for everyone.

 

[trogg78]

So how do you deter addicts from potentially ruining their child's life?

By having treatment programs easily available And not by making them criminals.

 

[trogg78]

Wait, shouldn't they be being charged for using drugs in the first place regardless of whether or not they're pregnant? I think that's where the McDonald's comparisons break down.

No, they should not be charged for using drugs.

 

[Sinn Fein]

I agree with the idea, but it looks like the execution needs work.

Perhaps checking with the Oklahoma execution team will help?

 

[Sinn Fein]

What about the smokers?

Apparently they will be in Memphis in May. There is a thread on it somewhere.

 

[DiStefano]

Wait, shouldn't they be being charged for using drugs in the first place regardless of whether or not they're pregnant? I think that's where the McDonald's comparisons break down.

No, they should not be charged for using drugs.

You mean you want them to get free drugs? I want in on that program.

 

[trogg78]

Wait, shouldn't they be being charged for using drugs in the first place regardless of whether or not they're pregnant? I think that's where the McDonald's comparisons break down.

No, they should not be charged for using drugs.

You mean you want them to get free drugs? I want in on that program.

You have the right to do drugs.

Any drugs you use cannot be used against you in a court of law.

If you cannot afford drugs, they will be provided for you.