The heartbreaking case of a 10-year-old girl who was raped and impregnated, and had to seek abortion in Indiana after she was denied abortion in Ohio, drew attention all across the United States. It was after the Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, taking away women’s right to abortion. People debated the case on Twitter.
While some prominent Republicans including Ohio’s attorney general and a congressman suggested that the story was fabricated, it proved to be true. The incident angered Twitter and even more so when a conservative lawyer James “Jim” Bopp said that having the child would have benefitted the young girl. Bopp helped author the model legislation on behalf of the National Right to Life organization which encourages states to ban all forms of abortion unless it is to save the mother’s life.
Read More: 10-Year-Old Rape Survivor Denied Abortion in Ohio After Roe v. Wade Overturn
“She Would Understand The Reason And Ultimately The Benefit Of Having The Child”: Ohio Lawyer
James “Jim” Bopp, a conservative lawyer and former Indiana deputy Attorney General, had a conversation with Politico about the story of the Ohio girl who was raped and was forced to travel all the way to Indiana for abortion. She was six weeks and three days pregnant, so she was denied abortion in her home state. But, the model legislation post-Roe v. Wade overturn would’ve prevented her from getting an abortion.
So, Bopp, 74, who authored the model legislation, was asked to justify his beliefs that she should’ve given birth. He was firm that it would’ve been the right thing to do. He said, “She would have had the baby, and as many women who have had babies as a result of rape, we would hope that she would understand the reason and ultimately the benefit of having the child.”
He continued, “Unless her life was at danger, there is no exception for rape. The bill does propose exceptions for rape and incest, in my model, because that is a pro-life position, but it’s not our ideal position. We don’t think, as heart-wrenching as those circumstances are, we don’t think we should devalue the life of the baby because of the sins of the father.”
The model legislation does encourage a ban on all abortions except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger, but it also footnotes “it may be necessary in certain states to have additional exceptions, such as for a woman pregnant as a result of rape or incest.” However, exceptions are considered when the person formally reports a rape or incest to the authorities.
Twitter Is Outraged Over Bopp’s Comments
Social media users ripped apart the conservative lawyer’s words and called his comments grounds for disbarment. One person wrote, “This is a fucking insane thing to say about anyone let alone a 10 year old child.”
Another Twitter user wrote, “Honestly outright saying that a ten year old should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term should be a disbarring offence,” while one person pointed out, “It’s alarming that 74 year old Jim Bopp doesn’t know the different between a 5th grade child and woman.”
Read More: Jane Fonda Says “Redefine Vaginas As AK47s” To Have Rights After Roe v. Wade Reversal
