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LB669: One More Box to Check Before Committing Murder

 

 

And any coercers needn’t worry.

They won’t be held accountable for the offense.

 

As we mentioned in our summary of LB669 in the previous article, the bill would require abortionists to ask clients if they feel coerced into committing an abortion, or have been victim to domestic violence or human trafficking.

 

But wait … if the situation instead concerned a mother’s born baby — should killing her innocent child only be considered problematic if the mother were coerced into it?

 

Whether someone was coerced into murdering an innocent human being is not relevant to the question of whether the killing itself should be a criminal act. This bill does not treat the homicide of an innocent human being as a criminal act.

 

What this bill does is further regulate the murder of one class of human beings: it further determines the conditions under which the murder of the preborn can legally take place. Before you kill an innocent human being, here is another box to check off. But as long as it’s checked, the baby can be killed and no crime has been committed.

 

The bill solidifies even more that there is one class of human beings (mothers) with the exclusive right to take the life of other human beings (their preborn children). The only question being asked is, “Do you really want to? Are you doing this of your own volition?” And if so, then it’s OK. Abortion is the mother’s choice. As long as she wants to, this bill permits it. Murder is up to you, if you are a mother and the victim is your preborn child.

 

The baby is legally unprotected under state statute. This bill does nothing to change that, despite the fact that it would amend an existing statute (§ 28-325) by striking the phrase: “That currently this state is prevented from providing adequate legal remedies to protect the life, health, and welfare of pregnant women and unborn human life” (LB669, Sec. 1). If Nebraska is not prevented from providing adequate legal remedy to protect unborn human life, then this bill should be the last thing anyone is trying to put forward. “Adequate” to “protect”?!

 

And in what world does it make sense to be asked privately about whether you are being coerced into committing murder — by the very one whose occupation it is to assist in carrying out such murders? Who can think that a mother who really is facing coercion would consider that a time for some honest, transparent conversation with a trusted party?

 

We already have state law against coercion to commit a crime. But it is not being applied to abortions.

 

Nebraska Revised Statute § 28-206 says: “A person who aids, abets, procures, or causes another to commit any offense may be prosecuted and punished as if he were the principal offender.”

 

If a person causes another to commit any offense, he may be prosecuted and punished as if he were the principal offender.

 

Except, abortion is not considered an offense, so long as, coerced or not, the mother decides to go ahead with it. It is not an offense if the woman does it. What is the result? No pimp, trafficker, abuser, or coercer will be prosecuted or punished as a principal offender for what is considered to be a non-offense. Where there is indeed true coercion, holding the coercers accountable only works if the human being in the womb is given equal protection under the law.

 

If we are really against coercion, we should uphold our state motto, “Equality before the law,” treat abortion as what is really is: murder, and let all coercers know that homicide of preborn children will result in criminal inquiry, and that they can be held accountable under the law as if they had themselves carried out the act.

 

Otherwise, under current Nebraska law, it is only specifically a parent/guardian who coerces a pregnant daughter/ward into an abortion that need have any concerns. And all he need worry about is a Class III misdemeanor (§ 71-6907(5)), which is weaker even than the penalty for a minor theft (a Class II misdemeanor, § 28-518(4)). Surely, if a parent or guardian has his mind set on coercing or causing a young mother under his care to commit an abortion, that is hardly much of a deterrent. And it is also one more demonstration of just how little value Nebraska state statute ascribes to preborn human life, to our lasting shame.

 

Beyond the above, coercion to commit abortion is undoubtedly far less common than advocates of this bill would have us believe. LB669 states that “abundant research indicates many pregnant women feel coerced or pressured into abortion” (Sec. 1). This is typical of the way pro-life organizations talk about the subject, conflating the terms “coercion” and “pressure.”

 

Isn’t it normal for any kind of crime to be committed under some kind of pressure, be it financial, psychological, social, etc.? We do not know which research studies the bill author was thinking of, but two common ones cited by pro-life organizations do not use the word “coercion” anywhere in the studies! Yet when the studies are referred to, it is said they are examples of women being coerced.

 

We ask: How much can it truly be considered coercion, when a pregnant mother schedules an appointment, drives to the abortion mill, does not call 911 for help to stop those supposedly forcing her, avoids interaction with any sidewalk advocates trying to offer aid, and walks into an abortion mill of her own free will?

 

Readers looking for more on the topic will be interested in watching the excellent and compelling docuseries “Abortion-Free,” and in particular the fifth episode: “Infantilizing Women.”

 

And if you’re reading this article before March 6th, 2025, read this to see how you can help oppose LB669 (and other bills)!