Tennessee lawmakers introduced a bill last Monday that would make it a felony for an adult to take a minor out of state for abortion.
The proposed abortion trafficking law says that any adult who “recruits, harbors, or transports a pregnant unemancipated minor within this state for the purpose of” access to “criminal abortion” under Tennessee law “commits the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor.” The violation would result in a Class-C felony.
The bill also notes that the minor would not be subject to prosecution, even if said minor “consents.” Preborn children are currently protected by law from abortion in most cases in the state.
The bill is sponsored by State Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville), who said a personal experience motivated him to file the bill.
“I was involved personally in a situation with a 14-year-old within the last two years in the state of Tennessee where an abortion was being facilitated by someone. The guardian found out about it too late, and were trying to stop it, and so it’s very personal. I was literally involved with that conversation with crying guardians who couldn’t stop what was being done to facilitate an abortion with a child under their care,” Zachary said. “I’m going to always take every step possible to protect life. We’ve done that in our state and I believe we have a mandate to do that based on the makeup of our legislature.”
Planned Parenthood has taken issue with the proposal – a stance that is unsurprising, given the abortion giant’s apparent involvement in promoting abortion trafficking and its history of covering for child sex abusers.
“Targeting trusted adults, family members, and helpers who assist minors in accessing abortion will have a chilling effect and is dangerous and irresponsible. If you know a minor who miscarries, you’re a potential suspect,” claimed Ashley Coffield, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi.
Coffield’s statement continues the abortion industry’s trend of pushing misinformation, especially in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s overturn.
Women and girls who miscarry are not in danger in Tennessee, nor anywhere else. Miscarriage treatment – which may involve the removal of an already deceased child from the mother’s womb – is not the same as abortion, which is the direct and intentional homicide of a preborn child. Miscarriage care also has nothing to do with minors being dangerously trafficked by their abusers for abortions. A law that would protect young girls from sex trafficking and abuse is commonsense protection.
