Forced ultrasound hearing halted by protesters in Idaho

Amid shouts and sign-waving by protesters who came to the Idaho Capitol today, the Republican-controlled House backed down on a bill that would have forced women to have an ultrasound prior to abortion.

On Wednesday night the Idaho House cancelled a scheduled Thursday morning hearing on the forced ultrasound bill after protesters staged a “live ultrasound” on the steps of the Capitol.

The demonstration followed a flood of protest emails and phone calls to State Representatives.

Forced ultrasound is an issue that both pro-choice and anti-abortion supporters object to because it is viewed as an unnecessary government intervention into a legal medical procedure.

“Anti-abortion activist Brandi Swindell conducted the live ultrasound demonstration in the Statehouse over the noon hour with the enthusiastic air of a lively state fair product-demo host. 'Isn’t this fun? Who doesn’t love seeing an ultrasound image of a baby?' she asked, adding, “Remember, this is first trimester, so the baby is tiny, tiny, tiny,” according to The Spokesman Review.

While media attention and protests have halted the Idaho Statehouse hearing, the legislation is not dead. It may return with changes, or be put on the back burner until Republican lawmakers think they have a better chance of pushing it through.

Women all over America have been voicing their objections to recent statewide attempts to pass new laws that allow the goverment to force medical procedures on them.

The Idaho legislation revolves around the abortion issue. However, if women lose their right to control their own bodies, what else will Republican lawmakers try to force on their bodies?

Forced ultrasound is not about abortion. It's about whether or not the government should have the right to make medical decisions for women, instead of their doctors.