Coercing an abortion may become felony

BOISE – A North Idaho lawmaker wants to make it a crime to attempt to coerce a woman or girl into having an abortion.

Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, introduced legislation Thursday to outlaw the use of threats or physical force to dissuade a pregnant woman from giving birth.

The bill also prohibits threatening to do “anything that the person does not have the legal right to do against the pregnant woman.” That could include employers threatening to withhold a job or promotion or “a school counselor maybe describing to a young person that by having this baby you have no future, those kinds of acts,” Nonini said.

It does not matter if the woman has the abortion.

The legislation governs “only the most egregious forms of coercion,” but it intends to “empower all Idaho mothers to choose life for their preborn children,” according to the measure’s statement of purpose.

Causing physical injury to a pregnant woman would be a felony punishable by as many as five years in prison, a $5,000 maximum fine or both. Using nonphysical coercion would be a misdemeanor punishable by six month’s incarceration, a fine of as much as $1,000 or both.

“Research indicates that violence against pregnant women is a serious problem all across the nation,” the bill’s statement of purpose says. “Many women report that they felt coerced into abortion and have suffered grievous and psychological harm in subsequent years.”

Also, injured pregnant women who sue perpetrators would be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

Nonini is working on the bill with Boise-based anti-abortion activist David Ripley.