We’ve all heard the refrain after gun violence — thoughts and prayers. After all, conservatives tell us, more laws simply don’t work. But when it comes to the conservative war on women, it seems as though thoughts and prayers are quickly abandoned, and laws meant to punish women — including victims of rape & incest, get passed right through.
Today in Missouri, Gov. Parsons signed into law legislation that does just that — from The St. Louis Post Dispatch:
Gov. Mike Parson on Friday signed a sweeping piece of anti-abortion legislation that critics and others argue will subject women to felony charges if they perform their own abortions.
Parson's signature comes less than 24 hours after GOP mega donor David Humphreysurged the governor to veto the measure, which bans most abortions at eight weeks of pregnancy. Critics say the legislation — which includes no rape or incest exemptions — is too extreme.
Thoughts and prayers? No, when it comes to issues Republicans care about, they openly acknowledge the thought isn’t what they think matters, instead, it is laws that will potentially imprison women who do not want to be forced carrying a child of rape or incest. The role of women, it seems, is simply to be an incubator.
Two years ago, NARAL, Planned Parenthood and others protested in the Missouri Senate around legislation that force women to watch medically unsound videos and endure elongated waiting periods.
From waiting periods to new legislation that calls for actual imprisonment. In 2017, women sounded the alarm in Missouri, and in 2019 the state is set on doing their absolute worst to those in need.
Thoughts and Prayers is just a phrase. What you never know for sure is what someone is actually thinking about or praying they hope occurs. In the case of Missouri legislators, it appears a big part of their thoughts are on controlling women, and the prayers? Well, at the moment it seems far more “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” than “Oh God”.