September 7th, 2011 @ 11am

Where: Capitol Building, Topeka, KS
Who: Citizens of Kansas committed to Reproductive Freedom
Why: The laws passed during this legislative session were unacceptable - it is important to show broad support for choice in Kansas.
For more info: Speak for Choice

Put this on your calendar! This rally was organized by a group of young women out of the Lawrence area. They were outraged about the legislative infringement on their rights. The laundry list of offenses committed by this legislature/governor is winding its way through the legal system now.
We must stand up for our rights - or they will be stolen from us. The time is now!

(And as a shameless plug - The Shop! has some perfect rally gear!

Today would have been Dr. George Tiller's 70th birthday. For many of those years, he was hunted, harassed, assaulted, stalked and ultimately assassinated. His "crime"? Trusting Women.

Dr. Tiller was tireless in his advocacy. He truly believed that women knew what was right for them and their families. Dr. Tiller HELPED women - often women that no other doctor would.   I am trying to write a post celebrating the life of a man that was and is truly a hero in the cause of women's rights - he gave his life for it, after all. However, I find myself only thinking of the conspirators that caused this man to be stolen from us.

As I have discussed previously on this blog - the State of Kansas recently created, implemented and subsequently were sued over new abortion clinic regulations.  You remember, the ambient temperature requirements - the janitor's closet requirements - the two weeks to comply? Yeah - those regulations. The ones that a judge quickly issued an order blocking. In a bit of common sense, the Attorney General's office had not filed an appeal in this case - much to Troy Newman's chagrin. However, yesterday (the deadline) a Michigan-based group called the American Association of Pro Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists filed a motion seeking standing to appeal on behalf of their members here in Kansas. They claim their members are losing childbirth-related business to abortion clinics. (Story on Kansas.com)
I have a couple things to say about this.  First, let me say that unless the judge is mental - I can't see how this will be allowed to go forward. However, lets look at some facts - just in case the improbable happens, this is Kansas, after all.

If this group is allowed standing due to economic effects of abortion clinics on their practices - then it basically turns the argument that these regulations were for anything other than closing clinics on its ear. If the state wants to claim that this was for "health reasons" or "protection of women" - this group's attempt is problematic. If they are holding that their members are losing childbirth-related profits - then they are conceding that they believe that it should be very difficult if not impossible to open/maintain an abortion clinic. After all - if there is a clinic, there aren't as many women in their member's stirrups.

But here's the kicker folks - Do you know how many doctors we are talking about in the state of Kansas?
Eight.*  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.  EIGHT doctors.  That's it.
AAPLOG is a recognized subsection of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Do you know how many total ACOG members there are in Kansas - 331*. That's just ACOG members, I'm sure there are a few non-dues paying docs out there vying for business as well.  So, these 8 doctors have at least 324 other doctors vying for their "childbirth-related business".  So who's the real challenge here? 3 abortion clinics or 324 other doctors?
Based on this alone a judge should send them out on their asses - and charge them for the time to do so.

I leave you with this public service. Please visit aaplog.org so you can decide who NOT to see as a physician.
*Stats based on roster available on association websites.