SOONER STATE SCARES…. Between its outrageous anti-immigrant efforts and initial support for “birther” legislation, Arizona has generated some ugly national headlines of late. But about 900 miles to the east, Oklahoma has been nearly as offensive.
Some right-wing lawmakers in the Sooner State have begun work on a new, privately-recruited militia, which would enjoy the blessing of the state, and would be armed and trained to resist federal encroachment. Oklahoma’s state House also recently approved a bill mandating that firearms manufactured in their state would be exempt from federal regulations. (thanks to reader E.P. for the heads-up)
And on reproductive rights, conservative Oklahoma lawmakers successfully passed a proposal that would “require women seeking [abortion] procedures early in their pregnancies to undergo an invasive form of ultrasound.”
One of the laws headed to the governor would require doctors to use a vaginal probe in cases where it would provide a clearer picture of the fetus than a regular ultrasound. Doctors have said this is usually the case early in pregnancies, when most abortions are done.
“You’re going to force someone to undergo an invasive medical procedure,” objected state Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, who voted against the bill. “You have to invasively put an instrument inside the woman. This could be your 15-year-old daughter who was raped.”
At least three states require ultrasounds before all abortions, but no other states require vaginal ultrasounds or that doctors to describe the image to women.
The good news is, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry (D) vetoed the bill…
Henry said “it would be unconscionable to subject rape and incest victims to such treatment” because it would victimize a victim a second time.
“State policymakers should never mandate that a citizen be forced to undergo any medical procedure against his or her will, especially when such a procedure could cause physical or mental trauma. To do so amounts to an unconstitutional invasion of privacy,” he said.
…and the bad news is Henry’s veto will probably be overridden.
It’s a good thing Oklahomans have elected all of those small-government types to the legislature, who will force citizens to undergo medical procedures they don’t want. Nothing says “limited government” like state-mandated, involuntary, invasive procedures, right?
