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  <title>Casey Murschel's blog</title>
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  <updated>2007-05-02T15:00:16+00:00</updated>
  <entry>
    <title>NO Exception for Rape, Incest Victims</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2006/10/16/no-exception-for-rape-incest-victims" />
    <id>http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2006/10/16/no-exception-for-rape-incest-victims</id>
    <published>2006-10-16T13:01:00+00:00</published>
    <updated>2007-05-02T15:00:16+00:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>Casey Murschel</name>
    </author>
    <category term="Leading Voices" />
    <category term="Access to Abortion" />
    <category term="Campaign 2006" />
    <category term="South Dakota" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[ <blockquote><p>Casey Murschel is the Executive Director of <a href="http://www.prochoicesd.org/">NARAL Pro-Choice South Dakota</a> and a state legislator. </p>
</p>
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<p>By now, I&#39;m sure most of you have heard about the role that my state, South Dakota, is playing in the most recent attack on reproductive freedom and privacy.  With <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/take-action/south-dakota-ban.html">Referred Law 6</a>, the voters of South Dakota will have a chance to repeal a ban on nearly all abortions- including in cases of rape and incest.  Early polling shows most South Dakotans are ready to repeal the ban, so the ban&#39;s supporters are launching a <a href="/blog/2006/10/09/circus-tactics-used-to-distract-voters-from-the-truth">deceptive ad campaign</a>.</p>
<p>While there are many different misleading statements in this ad, I&#39;d like to focus on what I see as one of the worst, and try to dispel this deceptive message.  The ad claims, &quot;Victims of rape and incest can still access the best options for medical care, compassion and justice and this can include the <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/term/142">morning after pill</a>.&quot;</p>
     ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[ <blockquote><p>Casey Murschel is the Executive Director of <a href="http://www.prochoicesd.org/">NARAL Pro-Choice South Dakota</a> and a state legislator. </p>
</p></blockquote>
<p>By now, I&#39;m sure most of you have heard about the role that my state, South Dakota, is playing in the most recent attack on reproductive freedom and privacy.  With <a href="http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/take-action/south-dakota-ban.html">Referred Law 6</a>, the voters of South Dakota will have a chance to repeal a ban on nearly all abortions- including in cases of rape and incest.  Early polling shows most South Dakotans are ready to repeal the ban, so the ban&#39;s supporters are launching a <a href="/blog/2006/10/09/circus-tactics-used-to-distract-voters-from-the-truth">deceptive ad campaign</a>.</p>
<p>While there are many different misleading statements in this ad, I&#39;d like to focus on what I see as one of the worst, and try to dispel this deceptive message.  The ad claims, &quot;Victims of rape and incest can still access the best options for medical care, compassion and justice and this can include the <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/term/142"><acronym title="Morning After Pill: Auto generated by glossary_taxonomy_nodetitle, for Morning After Pill">morning after pill</acronym></a>.&quot;  </p>
<p>As a state legislator who voted <strong>against</strong> this ban, I saw first hand how the other side pushed through this measure.  They never wanted exceptions for rape or incest- and it galls me to see them manipulating the facts.  I want to be perfectly clear:  <strong>Within Referred Law 6, there is NO exception for rape and incest victims. NONE.</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Referred Law 6      eliminates an important option for victims of rape and incest, leaving      victims with no options.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Referred Law 6      doesn&#39;t allow abortion as an option for rape and incest victims, and      <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/term/120"><acronym title="Emergency Contraception: Auto generated by glossary_taxonomy_nodetitle, for Emergency Contraception">emergency contraception</acronym></a> (EC) is not an option for most of these victims as      nearly half of South Dakota&#39;s pharmacies do      not carry this form of contraception. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>South Dakota allows certain      individuals and entities, such as pharmacists, to refuse to provide women      specific <a class="glossary-term" href="/glossary/term/131"><acronym title="Reproductive Health: Auto generated by glossary_taxonomy_nodetitle, for Reproductive Health">reproductive health</acronym></a> services, information or referrals.  In other words: Pharmacists in South Dakota are not      obligated to dispense emergency contraception.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>In fact, for      three years in a row - including this year, when they enacted this radical      abortion ban - South Dakota legislators have      defeated measures that would have required emergency rooms to provide      sexual assault survivors with information about and access to emergency      contraception.  </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>This law will      victimize survivors of rape and incest a second time.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Many victims of      rape and incest are too afraid or ashamed to come forward in time to      prevent pregnancy with emergency contraception (which is only effective      within 72 hours or less) or lack access to pregnancy prevention options. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>In 2004 there      were 334 reported forcible rapes, according to the Attorney General&#39;s      office in South Dakota, and worse yet      nearly half of rapes are not reported.</li>
</ul>
<p>Referred Law 6 will take private decisions away from families and put them in the hands of the government.  If you live in South Dakota, or have family or friends in the state, please join us in doing everything to make sure you and your family <strong>Vote No on Referred Law 6.</strong></p>
<p>For more information, please visit the <a href="http://www.sdhealthyfamilies.org/">South Dakota Campaign for Healthy Families</a> and to view their newest ad, <a href="/blog/2006/09/26/south-dakota-campaign">click here</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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