Ever since R v W was repeated, I have known that there would have to be a law enforcement apparatus to enforce it. So when the Orange Goblin suggested today that’s he’s OK with states “monitoring” pregnancies I was not shocked.
It is, quite simply, the logical outcome. When something is against the law, you must have a control agent that will ensure that.
The sale of alcohol, tobacco and firearms is legal within limits.
Therefore we have the ATF to ensure those limits are followed.
The transport, trade and distribution of certain narcotics is illegal.
Therefore we have the DEA to ensure the confiscation of drugs in this country.
The DMV is the control agency that determines whether you may operate a motor vehicle. (With assistance from police.)
So therefore, if abortion is going to be illegal, you must have a controlling agency.
Currently the only way to know if a woman plans to have an abortion, or is leaving the state to have one is if a third party alerts the police.
This is, of course, a highly imperfect method. There are too many variables that need to be at work, not the least of which is happenstance.
In order to truly enforce the law of the land, three things are required:
Registration (similar to what the DMV does.)
Monitorization (similar to what parole officers do.)
Last, but certainly not least: Enforcement
What will need to happen is that all women in the state, upon reaching birthing age, will need to register with the local Department of Obstetrics. Much as men do with the Selective Service, they will need to record their name and address with the Dept. They will be obliged to maintain their current address and natal condition with the DOO.
The state will then need to maintain that database, and then also a corresponding database which will contain the medical records of every viable woman. When an obstetrician or gynecologist registers contact with patient and determines she is pregnant, that information will be inserted and maintained in the database. All updates to the natal records must henceforth be maintained as well.
Yes, yes, we know, HIPAA and “medical privacy” and all that. Unfortunately, such privileges will have to be suspended for the common good.
Finally, Enforcement. Border stations will be placed at all roads leaving out of Texas. All vehicles will have to be checked and any and all women in those vehicles will have to have their registration papers checked. Women whose registration reads as “pregnant” will NOT be allowed to depart the state. Attempts to do so could result in incarceration.
There will be a rocky start to this program. The system of registration will take some fine tuning. There will be some push-back to the program. But inevitably, the women of Texas will find that this is a safe and thorough way to ensure that a Culture of Life is paramount in the Great State of Texas.