Idaho Lawmaker Says Rape Victims Can’t Get Pregnant Because Consent Is A ‘Biological Factor’ In Pregnancy

An Idaho legislator, Pete Nielsen, has caused outrage after he made a series of bizarre statements about pregnancy during an abortion debate. Rep. Nielsen stated during the debate that rape victims typically cannot get pregnant because consent is a “biological factor” in getting pregnant. In other words, Nielsen does not believe rape victims can get pregnant unless they consent to a sexual encounter because the body would be able to detect non-consent and not allow the girl to become pregnant from the traumatic event. The strange statement came in the middle of a debate on making it compulsory for abortion providers to tell women where they can go to get a free ultrasound.

The Daily Mail reports that Idaho legislator Pete Nielsen is in hot water after making claims that rape and incest victims cannot get pregnant due to the trauma associated with rape. During a debate involving legislation that would make it compulsory for abortion providers in Idaho to provide women with information on free ultrasounds before offering services, pro-choice activists claimed that the regulation would be emotionally taxing on women and young girls who are victims of rape and incest, noting that an ultrasound would be unnecessary and potentially damaging to the woman’s emotional health. However, Nielsen said that the concern is not valid, as rape and incest victims cannot get pregnant due to “biological factors” that prevent women from getting pregnant during traumatic events.

Nielsen noting that consent is a “biological factor” required for pregnancy and that he has “read a lot of information” on the matter because he has five daughters and he is pretty confident that victims of rape cannot get pregnant due to this consent factor being needed for pregnancy.

“Now, I’m of the understanding that in many cases of rape, it does not involve any pregnancy because of the trauma of the incident.”

When advocates for abortion rights pressed Nielsen on the matter and requested scientific proof that rape and incest victims could not get pregnant, Nielsen could not provide any studies but said he has “read a lot of information” on the subject.

“That’s information that I’ve had through the years. Whether it’s totally accurate or not, I don’t know. I read a lot of information. I have read it several times. Being a father of five girls, I’ve explored this a lot.”

Despite Nielsen’s lack of scientific proof of his statements, he used this information as a basis to place a vote that would pass the compulsory ultrasound information bill. The legislation was passed 13 – 4 in favor of requiring abortion clinics to provide all potential clients with information on where to receive free ultrasounds before an abortion can be performed.

What’s more disturbing? #PeteNielson‘s idiocy or his statement “Being a father of 5 girls, I’ve explored this a lot” https://t.co/h5HIMKGKsw

— ProgressiveArchitect (@PrgrsvArchitect) February 26, 2016

The ultrasounds are being heavily pushed by politicians in Idaho because evidence suggests that women who receive ultrasounds almost always choose life over abortion. In fact, Right to Life Idaho notes that 90 percent of woman who receive ultrasounds choose life.

https://www.facebook.com/rtlidaho/posts/986756711399361

Pro-choice advocates note that the legislation was passed as a means to prevent women from accessing their “constitutional right” to a “safe and legal abortion” and that these politicians should be more focused on birth control access and preventing pregnancy instead of controlling a woman’s right to choose.

“These bills are blatantly obvious attempts by politicians to put every barrier possible between a woman and her constitutional right to safe and legal abortion. A much better use of time for Rep. Nielsen and his colleagues is focusing on common sense ideas to expand access to birth control and reduce unintended pregnancies.”

Though the bill was passed, it seems that Rep. Nielsen has since been schooled on biology and has taken back his statements about rape and incest victims and pregnancy. Nielsen responded to complaints about his statements by noting that after further research he realizes it “was in error” to make those statements but that he was only going off of information he had at the time and that he “opened his mouth when he shouldn’t have.”

“I was in error, and I regret it. I stand by [my comments] in this sense: that at that time, that was my knowledge and information. I have since found out somewhat different and so I may have opened my mouth when I shouldn’t have.”

[Image via Idaho State Legislature Member Directory]