Congressman: Abortion Restrictions Justified Because Fetuses Masturbate

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Today, the House of Representatives will debate HR 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would outlaw almost all abortions 20 weeks after fertilization.

Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) would like a more restrictive ban on abortions because fetuses have been known to pleasure themselves at 15 weeks post fertilization.

From Salon:

Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX) said on Monday that he supports the proposed federal ban on abortion at 20 weeks because he has personally witnessed male fetuses with their hands "between their legs" pleasuring themselves at 15 weeks. "There is no question in my mind that a baby at 20-weeks after conception can feel pain. The fact of the matter is, I argue with the chairman because I thought the date was far too late. We should be setting this at 15-weeks, 16-weeks," said the former OB/GYN during the House Rules Committee debate on the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." "Watch a sonogram of a 15-week baby, and they have movements that are purposeful," he continued. "They stroke their face. If they're a male baby, they may have their hand between their legs. If they feel pleasure, why is it so hard to believe that they could feel pain?"

Watch Reason's recent discussion on abortion featuring Reason's own Katherine Mangu-Ward and Ron Bailey as well as Mollie Hemingway, editor of Ricochet and a contributor to Christianity Today below:

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