HB 1042, The Emergency Contraceptive Bill, was passed out of both the State House and State Senate a few days ago. It now sits on Gov. Owen's desk awaiting signature. In a nutshell, for those of you who either don't live in Colorado, or aren't aware of this bill - HB 1042 requires licensed emergency medical care providers to provide information about emergency contraception to rape victims.
However, the raving freaks of Focus on the Family have started a write campaign to get the Gov. to veto this bill.
More below:
Please write letters to the editor to the following newspapers and an email to Gov. Owens urging him to sign this bill.
(Clicking on the links will open up a email message for you.)
Gov. Owens E-mail Address
Newspapers:
Denver Post
Rocky Mountain News
Boulder Dailey Camera
Greeley Tribune
Fort Collins Coloradoan
Colorado Springs Gazette
The Pueblo Chieftain
Grand Junction Dailey Sentinal
I sent the following to Gov. Owens:
I wanted to thank you for taking a stand to support the bill to fix TABOR, HB 1194. That was very courageous of you. I want you to show the same courage and resist the out of touch radical right wing extremists who oppose HB 1042, The Emergency Contraception Bill. I urge you to sign it into law.
Here's what I wrote as a letter to the editor:
Gov. Owens should sign the Emergency Contraception Bill
Gov. Owens should resist the pressure from the out of touch far right religious extremists and sign HB 1042, The Emergency Contraception Bill.
The Colorado Legislature recently passed a bill that requires all providers of emergency care to rape victims give those victims information concerning emergency contraception. It has gone to Gov. Owens for signature. It's bad enough for a woman to get raped, but to be forced to carry her rapists child increases the trauma significantly. The bill requires that information regarding emergency contraception be given to all rape victims. It also allow the health care provider to either provide such medications or give the victim a prescription that can be filled at a local pharmacy. The bill does not, however, require that the victim take advantage of the information or the medication.
Some people have claimed that this infringes on their religious convictions as providers of emergency care. The bill allows that a provider may refuse to give this information if it violates their religious and moral convictions. However, under Federal Civil Rights law, it's illegal for a licensed medical care provider to refuse medical care on the basis of the religious beliefs of either the provider or the patient. Which means that health care providers must provide care in a religiously neutral fashion. For example, a hospital run by a Roman Catholic charity cannot refuse to provide care to a Moslem because of their religion. So a health care provider that refuses to provide the information may be liable under Federal Civil Rights law.
Sincerely,
Jake Thomson
Please write similar emails to the editors of these newspapers. And also send one to the Guv too.
Thanks!