Rep. Steve Humphrey, a Republican representative in Colorado, introduced a bill last week that would make abortion a felony in Colorado.
House Bill 1133, like one he proposed last year, says that life begins at conception. Under the bill, the mother seeking the abortion would not be prosecuted, but any licensed physician who performs the procedure would be charged “unlawful termination of a pregnancy.”
“I ran as a pro-life candidate and this is an issue that is important to my constituents. This should not be a surprise to anybody.” Humphrey told the U.S. Finance Post. “My constituents, whom I represent, feel strongly about this issue and I owe it to them to attempt to advance this issue. I realize this is an emotional issue and my intent is not to rub someone’s nose in the issue, but when we’re talking about protecting human life this is a discussion that we need to have.”
Democrats, however, disagree with the proposal.
“Colorado is not going to deny a woman’s right to choose or allow the government to meddle in the private relationship between a woman and her doctor,” Rep. Lois Court told the Denver Post. “And similar measures in other states have repeatedly been ruled unconstitutional. The sponsors of these bills are setting a new standard for being out of touch.”
*Published 1/20/2014
