Fight Fire with Fire?

I applaud Democratic state Sen. Bradford Blackmon (MS) today for introducing the 'Contraception Begins at Erection Act' as reported in Today in Politics, Bulletin 55. 1/23/25.  This bill, with its amusing name, would make it illegal for a man to masturbate and discharge his genetic material without the intent to fertilize an embryo, with fines starting at $1,000. The bill points out the absurdity of controlling men's reproductive behaviors in the same manner as is being done for women.

Joking aside, there is an important point to be made about men's role in reproduction, as they are 50% of the pregnancy equation. Most of the legislation in effect or being proposed to limit abortions focuses solely on controlling and punishing women. The few women I know who sought abortions did so at the request of their partners, who refused to accept the financial burden and responsibilities of raising a child.

We need more politicians willing to highlight the absurdity of some current and proposed laws and start addressing men's responsibilities for pregnancies and resulting births. 

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