New Mexico Bill Would Imprison Rape Victims Who Receive Abortions

Getting abortion considered "tampering with evidence."

A recently introduced bill in New Mexico requires that rape victims keep their pregnancies during their sexual assault trials or face charges of “tampering with evidence.” Meaning that getting an abortion after being raped could land them in jail. 

The doctor who performs the procedure isn't safe either. If HB 206 is passed both the victim and doctor could face three years in prison.

The bill says:

Tampering with evidence shall include procuring or facilitating an abortion, or compelling or coercing another to obtain an abortion, of a fetus that is the result of criminal sexual penetration or incest with the intent to destroy evidence of the crime.

Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R) who introduced the bill says that she drafted the bill in hopes of punishing people who commit incest or rape and try to force an abortion to hide evidence.

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