How About A Zygote Tax?

by Dick Mac

Colorado House Bill HB12-1130 changes that state's criminal code.

Colorado does not publish their laws online for the citizenry to examine, an interested party must pay Lexis/Nexis a fee for access, or send a written request to the Colorado government and pay them a fee. So, I do not have access to C.R.S., §18-1.2, the statute that is changed by this bill.

They do publish bills in the current session and HB12-1130 is one of them.

HB-12-1130 is the "First Degree Homicide Of The Unborn Child Bill" which mandates arrest and prosecution for terminating a pregnancy (a woman) or assisting a woman terminating a pregnancy (a doctor).

HB12-1130 changes section 18-1 by adding this 18-1-506:

18-1-506.Construction of statutes regarding unborn members of the species homo sapiens. IF THE COMMISSION OF ANY CRIME CODIFIED IN THIS TITLE OR TITLE 42,C.R.S., IS THE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF DEATH OR INJURY TO AN UNBORN MEMBER OF THE SPECIES HOMO SAPIENS, THE RESPECTIVE HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT CHARGES FOR THAT DEATH OR INJURY MAY BE BROUGHT CONTEMPORANEOUSLY WITH THE UNDERLYING CHARGES.

The bill explains the law:

The bill creates a new article for offenses against pregnant women and their unborn children. The new offenses are unlawful termination of a pregnancy in the first degree, unlawful termination of a pregnancy in the second degree, unlawful termination of a pregnancy in the third degree, unlawful termination of a pregnancy in the fourth degree, vehicular unlawful termination of a pregnancy, and aggravated vehicular unlawful termination of a pregnancy. The bill excludes from prosecution medical care for which the mother provided consent.

The penalty for criminal abortion in which the woman does not die is increased from a class 4 felony to a class 3 felony.

The bill makes conforming amendments.

This means that if a woman has an abortion, she and her attending physician are guilty of 3rd Degree Homicide.

Holy crap!

This bill passed the Colorado House!

Holy crap!

Colorado State Representative Daniel Kagan (D) issued a statement hat says, in part:

...we were unable to prevent the Republican majority in the House from passing on second reading the First Degree Homicide of the Unborn Child bill. Under some circumstances, it makes both termination of pregnancy and the use of the morning after pill a homicide. It also confers personhood on a newly fertilized egg.
See, Breaking: "First Degree Homicide Of The Unborn Child Bill" Passes CO House On Second Reading

What defines personhood in America? If you an adult your legal personhood is proven by a social security number. If you do not have a social security number, then you need to have a green card. If you have neither, then you are not a legal person in the United States.

Does this Colorado law now mean that a fetus, or a zygote, will be issued a social security number? If it doesn't have a social security number, then it is not a person in the eyes of the government, so how can a zygote be protected by the laws of the government?

Or is it really that for "conservatives" those personhood requirements are only used against brown-skinned people from other countries. Zygotes are OK. Especially white zygotes.

What will the tax rate be on a zygote? I say 18% is fair. So, let's say that a living child uses one-third of its parents income. We now divide the family gross income by 3 and tax that amount at 18% and the zygote has personhood. The family will still have to pay their taxes on their entire income, including that one-third. Unless their really rich, then they don't have to pay any taxes. A family earning $50,000 will pay nine hundred dollars for their zygote, whether it lives or dies. And if it dies, you better hire a lawyer because you can be indicted for killing a person.

I know there are apologists for "conservatives" and "conservatives" themselves who will say that this is not part of a Republican War On Women, that Democrats are just as responsible for laws like this.

That is simply not true.

This IS a war against women, a war against all the progress women have made the past one hundred years. This war is not a war by the Democrats, in any way, shape or form.

This so-called "conservatism" preached by Republicans is NOT conservatism. Today's Republicans are completely opposed to personal freedom. They want to dictate the sex of your partner, the legal treatment you receive because of the color of your skin, they want to mandate how, when, why and where a woman will or can make a decision about her reproductive health.

Everyone who votes Republican supports this War on Women. If you do not support this War On Women, then you must vote against the Republicans.

You can't say: I voted Republican and I support the rights of women, because Republicans do not believe in the personal freedom of women.

Also, if you've voted Republican in the last thirty years, you are culpable and responsible for the financial, political, cultural, and medical mess our country is in today. Sure, go ahead and try to point out how this is the fault of the Democrats. Your arguments will be all lies and untruths.

Any Republican who does not stand-up and be heard speaking-out against this bill in Colorado, and the War On Women, in general, is complicit and responsible for laws like this being enacted.

Show your stuff Republicans: Do you believe in personal freedom? Do you believe a doctor and woman should be incarcerated for an abortion? Speak up. Tell the world you oppose this bill and the War On Women. Or, have the courage of your convictions and admit you support laws like this.

If you fail to do so, you are part of the problem.