The leaked draft opinion by The Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade has caused many to discuss and debate abortion rights. CNN pundit Jeffery Toobin pushed former Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah) to discuss her state’s stance on the issue.
“So having this go back to states, I feel more comfortable working in my state of Utah for a bill that is going to be better for Utahns,” Love stated, per The Hill. “And the same thing with every other state instead of nine Supreme Court Justices making one decision that everybody has to live under.”
Toobin then asked the congresswomen what the penalties should be for a woman who simply doesn’t want a pregnancy and isn’t considering abortion due to rape or incest.
“What are the penalties? You know, what are the penalties? Let me ask the congresswoman. I mean, you know, you think that abortion is the taking of a life.”
“Congresswoman, how many years in prison should a woman get if she just — you know, not a rape, it wasn’t a product of a rape or incest, just an unwanted pregnancy. She has an abortion in Utah. She took a life intentionally. How many years should she go to prison for?”
Love stated that she isn’t there to be a judge, jury, or executioner regarding penalties that women in her state should face if they get an abortion if it becomes illegal in Utah.
“I am not going to be the judge, juror or executioner,” Love responded. “I am just going to do everything I can to make sure that that woman hopefully has all of the resources and all of the information that they need so they can make an informed decision and I am going to be incredibly compassionate.”
However, Toobin continued to press Love on the issue.
“You’re a lawmaker. You’re a lawmaker,” Toobin said. “What are the penalties? How many years in prison for that one?”
“I am not going to put somebody in prison for an unwanted pregnancy,” Love fired back. “But what I said I would do is try and protect life. And I think we should all be in the business of protecting life. It doesn’t mean that you have to take somebody else’s life away to protect an unborn child.”