A North Texas lawmaker is in favor of a ban on abortions after 20 weeks gestation because he said he’s seen male fetuses at that stage pleasure themselves.
U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess, a Republican representing Denton County and parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties, is a former OB/GYN. He supports a proposed GOP bill called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.
During a recent House Rules Committee hearing he has gone as far as saying the bill should ban abortions 15 weeks after conception.
“There is no question in my mind that a baby at 20 weeks after conception can feel pain. The fact of the matter is I argue with the chairman because I thought the date was far too late. We should be setting this at 15 weeks, 16 weeks,” he said.
“Watch a sonogram of a 15-week baby, and they have movements that are purposeful,” Burgess said. “They stroke their face. If they’re a male baby, they may have their hand between their legs. If they feel pleasure, why is it so hard to think that they could feel pain?”
