Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

"Overturning Roe v. Wade could have disastrous consequences for the U.S. armed forces, and here’s how I know: When I was 21, I was drugged and raped violently while serving in the military, a crime that resulted in pregnancy.

Had I not had access to a******n, the assault would have ended my career and derailed my life. Should Roe be overturned and access to a******n restricted for female service members across the United States, military readiness would be directly affected.

Women make up 14.4 percent of our active-duty military and about 18 percent of our reserve and National Guard. Rape in the military is prevalent: In 2018, the Defense Department reported that roughly 20,500 service members experienced sexual assault, up from 14,900 two years before.

Many states have trigger laws banning or criminalizing a******n that will go into effect as soon as Roe is overturned — a probable outcome considering the Supreme Court draft opinion that leaked earlier this month.

This will immediately affect active-duty service members, who don’t exactly get to choose what state they serve in, and who don’t have the freedom to travel to other states without a leave “chit” approved up the chain of command — a command that is notoriously bad at dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault. Of the 20,500 service members sexually assaulted in 2018, only one-third reported the assault, and 43 percent of those who did said it was a negative experience.

Military leaders are often averse to having sexual assault associated with their command — not to mention the rapist is often in the chain of command. This leads to situations in which it’s unsafe to report rape. And if there’s no safe space to report rape, there’s certainly no safe space to request leave to travel for a******n care.

Potential workarounds such as mail-order a******n medication would most likely be unfeasible. When I served, mail went through the chain of command, and there were inspections to prevent the receipt of contraband. Although I don’t know whether a******n pills received through the mail today would be confiscated, I do know I never would have ordered them, for fear of being caught and disciplined.

When I tried to report my rapist, I was asked the same questions so many victims have heard before: What were you wearing? Were you flirting? Are you in a fight with your boyfriend? A higher-ranking officer told me I could lose my prestigious nuclear position. He said I’d be dishonorably discharged for filing a false report and court-martialed for adultery because my rapist was married.
Marc Thiessen

I left believing it was my fault — a lie that took over a decade of therapy to undo — and I was terrified to mention it to anyone.

There was no morning-after pill to prevent pregnancy back then. But when I discovered I was pregnant, I was able to access a******n care at a nearby Planned Parenthood, along with a counseling referral. The trauma from the rape almost cost me my life. Access to the care I received afterward saved me.

Now imagine if I hadn’t had that care. Imagine if multitudes of women in the military could not access such care.

In a world without Roe, service members without ready access to a******n care would be trapped. A service member who is raped and becomes pregnant could essentially be forced by the government to carry their pregnancy to term and give birth to their rapist’s baby.

There are concrete steps U.S. officials can take now to help service members who might need to seek a******n care.
First, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin should create policy granting leave for reproductive-health travel, and President Biden should call on the Defense Department to put that policy into practice.

Second, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) should bring the Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA) — sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and supported by senators including Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) — to a floor v**e. The bill proposes taking the decision to prosecute rape and assault out of the chain of command, which would give active-duty service members a safe space to report.

The MJIA has 67 bipartisan sponsors. But it was k**led when Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) insisted it be included in the National Defense Authorization Act, where it was gutted. Gillibrand has continued to push for a v**e on the full proposal and has been repeatedly blocked.

This lack of protections is unacceptable. Forcing service members with unwanted pregnancies to covertly seek a******n care — or to carry a pregnancy to term — would be inhumane. If the United States values women’s military service, it must find a way to ensure they have a choice."

Allison Gill

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Overtuing Roe V Wade does NOT prohibit a******n in any way.
It allows We The People to determine our destiny.
In NY and CA and other murderous states you can still k**l the baby even after it is born.
Only i***ts think that in any way or form this is a prohibition of a******n.
The primary value to it is preventing the feds from funding a******n against the will of the vast majority of Americans including women.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Oklahoma

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

The “vast majority” of American, including woman” are pro choice.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Read the article, and then admit—this might be a problem for our good women in the military.

Rose42

Hyperbole. A******ns done because of rape are extremely rare. However the author has a valid point about reporting rape in the military. That is an important issue that needs to be addressed

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Who cares.
That is their "CHOICE".
None of your business nor mine.
Do not like it, move there and v**e for murder.
But it has no effect upon you in any way.
Even if you live in Oklahoma go out of state, which today is as easy as going to McDonald's. There will be plenty of murder and body parts shops across the borders.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Very astute, completely logical response. You are truly your brother’s keeper brimming with empathy and compassion.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Also last I heard there is the morning after pill.
Rape is evil and needs to be addressed everywhere more strongly.
There is no intelligent reason to wait 9 months and do a partial birth murder except to sell body parts.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Far more in my toenail than all lefties combined.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

Again, an astute, well-thought out response. You always come through.

DennyT Loc: Central Missouri woods

This is the case ( military member ) that RBG said should have been the deciding the issue.
She felt it should have been based on the woman not the physician.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

You attack me personally because I totally destroyed you on the substance of the topic, as usual.
Try keeping focused on the stupidity of the i***ts who claim that Roe V Wade being declared unconstitutional has any bearing on banning a******n on a federal level.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

I didn’t say you look foolish—I said you were “astute”.

Frank T Loc: New York, NY

Archie, you cannot be more wrong. How does "we the people" get to decide about what a woman, (who is also a people) does with her body? What if, "we the people" decided you should be sterilized so as not to breed? Would you be okay with that?
As for your statement that NY and California allow the k*****g of a baby after it is born, just shows how uninformed and ignorant you are. Neither of those states allows that.
How about this for the law: Take care of yourself and when it comes to another, mind your own business.