Both victims deserve both support, compassion

A pair of recent letters criticized Herndon and the government for attempting to legislate their “beliefs” about abortion (Daily Bee, Jan. 29 and Feb. 7), but aren't these critics imposing their own “beliefs” on what government ought or ought not to legislate? We don’t have a right to impose our beliefs through laws on others. That’s like someone arguing "You can’t force your anti-slavery beliefs on other people through laws against slavery." The pro-abortionists have no qualms about imposing their morality on the unborn. Surely a loving God doesn’t give you that right.

What is always avoided in the pro-abortion rhetoric is the other victim, i.e., the unborn child. Are rape and incest babies so heinous that they don’t have a right to life? Does one evil act justify another? Rebecca Kiessling would tell you no. Look her up. She was conceived in violent rape, but now is a family law attorney and advocate for life. These babies are neither a curse nor some kind of monster.

Government is in the business of legislating morality. The basic purpose of legislation is to enact laws that are heavily weighted with moral concern. One of the reasons we have laws is to protect people from the harmful choices of others. Destroying the unborn harms another human being and is morally wrong. No matter the circumstances of its conception.

There are two victims of pregnancy from rape or incest. Both deserve our support and compassion under such difficult circumstances. Not a death sentence.

TIM KNAPP

Clark Fork