Tuesday, February 15, 2011

An Embarrassing Legislature

Just when I think I have heard the craziest thing coming out of the SD Legislature, I find something that tops the list

HB 1171: provide that the use of force by a pregnant woman for the protection of her unborn child is an affirmative defense to prosecutions for certain crimes.

Presented by:    Representative Phil Jensen
Proponents:    Rita Houglum, Eagle Forum
        Dale Bartscher, Family Heritage Alliance
        Cindy Flakoll, Concerned Women For America
        Zach Lautenschlager, Campaign for Liberty

MOTION:    AMEND HB 1171
1171ra
On the printed bill, delete everything after the enacting clause and insert:

    "    Section 1. That § 22-16-34 be amended to read as follows:

    22-16-34. Homicide is justifiable if committed by any person while resisting any attempt to murder such person, or to harm the unborn child of such person in a manner and to a degree likely to result in the death of the unborn child, or to commit any felony upon him or her, or upon or in any dwelling house in which such person is.
    Section 2. That § 22-16-35 be amended to read as follows:
    22-16-35. Homicide is justifiable if committed by any person in the lawful defense of such person, or of his or her husband, wife, parent, child, master, mistress, or servant, or the unborn child of any such enumerated person, if there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design to commit a felony, or to do some great personal injury, and imminent danger of such design being accomplished. "


Moved by:    Tornow
Second by:    Gosch
Action:    Prevailed by voice vote.

MOTION:    DO PASS HB 1171 AS AMENDED

Moved by:    Gosch
Second by:    Turbiville
Action:    Prevailed by roll call vote. (9-3-1-0)

Voting Yes:    Boomgarden, Hansen (Jon), Kopp, Nelson (Stace), Russell, Tornow, Turbiville, Gosch, Hunt

Voting No:    Feinstein, Gibson, Killer

Excused:    Abdallah

MOTION:    AMEND TITLE OF HB 1171
1171rta

    On page 1, line 1, of the printed bill, delete everything after "to" and insert "expand the definition of justifiable homicide to provide for the protection of certain unborn children.".

    On page 1, delete lines 2 and 3.


Moved by:    Turbiville

Take a look at an article written about this bill. This article has gone viral on Facebook. South Dakota is being ridiculed because of these people. Laws to mandate gun ownership, laws about restricting abortion rights. South Dakota has voted on the abortion issue. Obviously these people think they don't need to pay attention to what the voters have said. They are in the legislature to push their own personal agenda, period.

Who are the people who keep voting these lunatics to public office. People need to stop voting for a person they know nothing about just because they have an "R" behind their name on the ballot. While we are at it, we need to stop this practice of electing the same people over and over again while they switch between the House and the Senate. I swear, once you get elected, people in this state will forever vote for you just because they recognize your name.

It is an embarrassing legislature, making South Dakota look like a bunch of lunatics. The State has budget problems and all these fringe right wing people want to do is push their own agenda. It is a sad commentary on the state of our State. It's embarrassing that it got out of committee. Let's hope there is still rational thought when it gets to a floor vote. Not everyone there is a nut case, right?

2 comments:

  1. This is going viral and the comments are not complimentary to SD. "Another reason not to visit this State"

    We won't be known as the Mount Rushmore State.....we are a land of kooks and right wing nut cases thanks to the SD Legislature. Voters in this State need to pay more attention in the voter booth.

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  2. First Shawn gets fired, elected to the legislature, treats voters poorly, and now wants to shoot healthcare workers! Been a busy year for Mr Tornow.

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