EDITORIAL: The law must be upheld

The Tribune investigation that revealed the sale of abortion pills without prescription has, inevitably, prompted calls for abortion laws to be changed.

There are of course two separate issues here – the first is whether pharmacists are selling the pills unlawfully (and if they are selling those without prescription what else is being sold?).

The law is the law has been a common refrain from government in recent times on issues of immigration – well, the law doesn’t stop being the law when it moves on to other issues. If the law is being broken through the sale of medicines without prescription, then it should be enforced.

The second issue surrounds the abortion laws themselves. Abortion too is illegal, and part of the call for change is that people will still access abortion through different means.

As advocate Alicia Wallace says in today’s story in The Tribune, “People know which doctors, which pills they can use and there are myths, old wives tales that people cling to to induce abortions for themselves using various types of vitamins, supplements and bush medicines.”

There are horror stories to be told in all of this, including people injuring themselves or using coat hangers to bring about an abortion.

Again, though, as hard as it may be to consider, the law is the law. The doctors that people know to go to are breaking it, the people peddling the pills and bush medicines know it’s illegal and in almost all circumstances we imagine those seeking the abortion know they are going against the law of the country.

The law is not something to just find a way around. You don’t sneak through the back door of a clinic if you think something is lawful, that’s what the front door is for.

And the law being the agreed-upon rules for our society as a whole, people cannot just pick and choose which laws they follow.

Health Minister Dr Duane Sands has called the abortion issue “political kryptonite” and he’s right – if people think the church marches against the legalising of the number shops were large, just wait and see the church marches against abortion.

Moreover, tackling the abortion issue skips right on past prevention when there is so much that can be done to stop becoming pregnant in the first place.

We agree with Ms Wallace that such measures – access to contraceptives, even free of charge for those below the poverty line – need to be considered. Education too has to be a focus.

But the abortion debate is one that will encounter strong opposition – indeed, even having it might make it harder to implement improved access to contraception in what is sure to be a heated debate.

That debate is, however, the second issue. For now, those five words remain. The law is the law. It’s up to enforcers now to uphold it.

Watch out, and be safe

A spate of home invasions has prompted the Bahamas Police Force to offer homeowners advice on how to avoid becoming a target.

Whatever the reasons for this recent run of crimes - perhaps criminals looking to plunder after the Christmas season, perhaps just coincidence that there are a few so close in time together - it pays to take a look around and see if your home and surroundings are secure.

The police have not said if the incidents are linked, so hopefully they might be isolated - but still, safety first. To the advice given by Superintendent Shanta Knowles, we would add to keep a watch on your neighbours for their security - and if dropping off someone at their home, wait around while they get safely inside.

A little extra watchfulness for those around us is no bad thing at the best of times - and if it helps to prevent further crimes, it lets the police concentrate on catching the culprits of these raids.

So listen to the advice, look to your surroundings - and do your part to help prevent crime.

Comments

TheMadHatter says...

" – if people think the church marches against the legalising of the number shops were large, just wait and see the church marches against abortion."

Yes. Everyone knows that women are simply incubators made out of flesh. Why they bother going to college is a true mystery. Stay home and pop 'em out. We got empty pews to fill !!!

Posted 21 January 2020, 9:10 p.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

That is indeed the churches view.

Posted 22 January 2020, 9:50 a.m. Suggest removal

yeahyasee says...

LOL

Posted 22 January 2020, 10:44 a.m. Suggest removal

DWW says...

laws can be changed.

Posted 22 January 2020, 7:47 a.m. Suggest removal

joeblow says...

Its sad that people in this country no longer seem to understand the concepts of self control and personal responsibility.

Posted 22 January 2020, 8:28 a.m. Suggest removal

Sickened says...

If you want an abortion simply ask the father of the child (or one of the guys you think may be the father) to drop kick you in the stomach! Sadly, I'm sure that they would be happy to do it cause you probably lied to them and told them that you were on the pill.

Posted 22 January 2020, 9:52 a.m. Suggest removal

John says...

I guess that’s what your father did. But fortunately (or unfortunately) with you it wasn’t a direct hit. So now some of your marbles are missing, you don’t play with a full deck and your elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top floor

Posted 22 January 2020, 11:53 a.m. Suggest removal

Chucky says...

Just because a law exists does not in any way suggest that it is agreed upon by the people, and when not agreed upon, what possible justification is there to follow it or enforce it.

Noteworthy, even a referendum can only indicate which way the majority of participants lean on a particular issue, or law as the case may be. Perhaps a referendum is the best way we have to decide on the creation of laws; but as we all know, governments rarely use the tool of referendum and even more rarely follow the result. Case in point the numbers situation; or if you wish to look abroad, how about brexit; a referendum that not only did the government’s ignore and delay, but it took another election to finally get the side of government that wished to follow the people’s will the tools to do so.

Let’s face it people, there is a great difference between a law on the books, and the wishes of the people.

It’s likely time we revisit many of the laws on the books. But as always, the “people’s government “ is not at all interested in the people, but rather in preserving the status quo of the ruling class, or improving their position, especially the economics of it.

Posted 22 January 2020, 1:43 p.m. Suggest removal

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