Franklin has presented this bill to the state house every year since 2002. I'm amazed that he would even try to make miscarriage a capital offense, on the same level as murder, but I'm no longer surprised by his shenanigans. I'm even more amazed that the women of his district keep re-electing him. I'm embarrassed to live in his district, and told his aide this yesterday. And when I followed up with an email just to make sure he got my message, the auto response from his Georgia Legislature email address read, in part, that due to ineptitude on the part of the Gold Dome technical support staff, he probably would never receive my email, and encouraged me to call his office. Nothing like throwing an entire state department under the bus! The fact that the email worked well enough to send me an auto-response means that it's working just fine; he just can't be bothered to use the technology. I suggest we show him that the electronic voting machines work just "fine" when we show him the exit door.

This comment was submitted via e-mail by Ann K.: Thank you for exposing this worm. You can tell him from me that we don't need Sharia Law here, another Inquisition, nor witch hunt trials going on in Georgia. And we sure don't need some religious nutjob trying to tell women they should be prosecuted because of spontaneous miscarriage! Don't approve of abortion? Fine. Don't have one. But don't you dare try to put an American woman on trial for a miscarriage!

Julia, first can I say I am so sorry for your loss - I am sure it is something you never get over.. thank god I never had to go through something like that so I guess I can never really understand how it affects someone.
I think it is scandalous that any woman, grieving after a miscarriage, should be subjected to some kind of investigation like this.. This guy is clearly a nut job and needs to be stopped. I will help in any way I can to prevent this becoming law.
I assume his intention is really to protect babies who are unwanted really, he is not trying to persecute women who genuinely miscarry. Well if this is the case, he should encourage better sex education and availability of contraception - measures that would prevent unwanted pregnancies - instead of introducing laws like this.

Words can not even begin to describe how outrageous this bill is. Crimes should be punished. Women having a miscarriage does not fall into that category. Anyone suggesting it should be considered murder should not be a leader. This is wrong on so many levels that it's hard to even comprehend how someone could try to make a law saying miscarriage is murder and then spend 9 years trying to get that law passed. Is this state representative not concerned with actual crimes? This is one of the most profoundly outrageous things I have ever heard. If men were the ones who were pregnant, they would never even utter the words that it could possibly be considered murder. This person doesn't seem to understand the human body.
There are real issues our state rep could be using his time to fight for, instead of trying to send innocent women to prison.

I myself have just recently gone through a miscarriage that was an ectopic pregnancy. My baby was growing in my ovary. Under this new bill, would I have not been given medical treatment to save my life and my reproductive organs, or is he going to come up with some medical marvel to save those ectopic babies and put them back in the uterus where they belong to be born? I have suffered enough through this experience and knowing that someone is out there they may want to make me suffer more just makes me sick.

Obviously, State Representative Bobby Franklin has no compassion for women on any level. Knowing that he has introduced this bill before indicates his ignorance and also the ignorance of those who have reelected him.
I am so disgusted by voters who know nothing of the person for whom they are voting other than the Republican or Democrat designation beside the name of the candidate that I'm beginning to wonder if there shouldn't be a test, much like a driver's test, before a person can register to vote.
I sympathize with every woman who has ever lost a baby through miscarriage. I can't possibly imagine the pain.
If it takes a phone call or snail mail then so be it. Bobby Franklin will be hearing from me!

This guy is a lunatic! How can a person with such ridiculous ideas be elected and re-elected to public office. Is the "public" not paying attention to what this crazy person is saying and doing? I wonder if this guy has a sister or daughter. If so, would he feel the same way if one of them had a medically unexplained miscarriage? Get this guy out of office whenever he's up for re-election!!!!

@ Michelle - Thank you for your kind words.

My opinion reflects most of the women here. Natural and medical science cannot explain most miscarriages that happen to all mammals, human or animal. I don't understand how educated and intelligent men can therefore create laws that would criminalize a phenomena that natural and medical science can't even explain. It's just not logical.

Val01 has brought up a great point - he's in office. He's been elected and re-elected. We are the women voters of Cobb County and we need to take action at elections. We can't sit idle. Such bills affect not only us, but our sisters, daughters, and future generations.

I think we cannot wait to simply vote him out of office. We must find an alternative candidate who will run for that office, someone who will be able to receive funding for a campaign, and someone who will represent all of this district.
He's run unopposed for all this time. That alone needs to change.

Great point, Linda. We need a candidate to step up! Who can we nominate?

Meanwhile, what can people do to prevent this proposed bill from becoming GA law? I've included links in the article that people can click on to get his contact information. Writing letters to our House of Representatives and legislature is one way.

This is the nuttiest bill I have can remember in a few yrs. This guy is reading a different Bible that the 1 I grew up reading. If this is the kind of religious law he is wanting for GA then we need to just use the Muslins style of law. There are nuts in this world and he right at the top of the list. Come on ladies of Cobb start a recall on this wacko.

One way to stop this is to flood the Gold Dome with phone calls and letter mail as well as email. so start Monday, I will!

There is an opinion column in the Saturday, February 26 AJC by Neil Boortz (with whom I very seldom agree) in which Mr. Boortz expresses his utter disgust with State Representative Bobby Franklin's proposed bill. I knew nothing of the issue prior to receiving my Patch email this morning and I thank the reporters at Patch for informing me of it. I, too, received the email from Mr. Franklin's office decrying the inefficient technical support and advising me to phone his office. I can't wait until Monday morning! I will certainly be making that phone call and will continue to do so until I speak with Mr. Franklin personally.
Which national news outlet will be the first to report this obscenity and yet again make Georgians look like a bunch of toothless, ignorant, mutants? I'm already embarrassed and ashamed.

This is a prime example of what is wrong with our state and federal goverment today. Instead of lawmakers working on the major issues of the day they spend their time spending our money and taking away our civil liberties.

It is obvious to me that Mr. Franklin needs help and should see a psychologist.

Another article in the AJC today (Sunday, Feb. 27) in the Metro section. This guy is beyond a nutcase. I really think he could become dangerous as he approaches complete insanity. The people in his district, Northeast Cobb, aren't particularly bothered by his excentricities and admit they will vote for him again. The article is a sad example of what can happen when voters do not know the candidate for whom they are voting.

Thanks for posting about the AJC article, Lisa. I'll check it out.

The problem is, in part, that there hasn't been a candidate running against him. It is surprising, really, when you consider that there are men and women in our community who would do a great job as State Representative.

That's one of the things I found to be interesting. He's only had two opponents since 1997. His antics in those races would certainly cause a potential candidate to think long and hard about entering the race. No Democrat need apply so I don't know that there is an answer. I'm at least glad that he seems to be the "crazy uncle" to whom no one pays attention in the legislature. I can only hope that the recent exposure will cause people to actually research candidates before they vote.

How do you defeat a candidate when he is the only one on the ballot?

Hi Ann,

Good question. Maybe a woman candidate will be on the next ballot. Any nominees?

I first heard about this on another website and am outraged. As a woman who suffers from Lupus which up's my risk of miscarriage and from a very, very small uterus that would prevent me from carrying a child to full term anyway's...multiple miscarriges would have happened had I not gotten my tubes tied. I am only 28 by the way. Just to think that I would be under investigation for this....it's just heartless. I've known many women who have miscarried and it's no walk in the park. If this had been passed in 1982 ( just to give an example ) my mother would have been arrested because I was miscarried at 6 months. She had the same problem I did from what we know-I'm adopted. It's 2011...not the 1900's. Wake up and smell the coffee you little dip ****.

I just called his office but I did not leave a message figuring that this guy would not understand a word I'm saying. I am Deaf btw-is there a TTY number I can call? A phone call would suffice better than an e-mail.

Thanks.
Sheri.

Sheri, I'm so sorry for your illnesses.
I would have called Franklin a little dip **** prior to this going out into the blogosphere. Now I refer to him as the GIANT DIP ****. It seems that Mother Jones has picked up the story and shared it with that readership at the least. I'm so tired of explaining to people who don't live in Georgia that not everyone here is a brain dead idiot. There's an interesting Truth-o-meter in the AJC today concerning Mr. Franklin and the many possibilities of such a piece of legislation.

Ok-I finally got up the guts to leave a message-and did.
Hope he get's it.

Thanks to Ann for posting this article. I've posted this to my FB urging all of my friends to call and oppose this bill he's trying to pass.

Check out this article about State Rep. Bobby Franklin and his oath of office: http://patch.com/A-f38K

We'd love to hear your comments!

if this passes, there will be many women to investigate. for the last 4 years i've been processing pregnancy medicaid for the county office where i work, and in the last couple of years, the number of miscarriages has increased dramatically. certainly, the thought police will have their hands full.

A miscarriage is the saddest and most difficult thing any woman can go through.....I know, my first pregnancy was a miscarriage and to have to defend myself in court would have been overwhelming and an insult. This "man" sounds like the Spanish Inquisition re-invented in modern times. About time all the women in his district vote him out of office and send him packing.

I am beyond sickened by this man's insane, attention-getting tactics. What other reason could there be!? I suffered, repeat SUFFERED FOUR UNTHINKABLE, UNIMAGINABLE LOSSES before insisting to my doctor that I be put on Heparin ( blood thinner) therapy and was finally blessed with my son. According to this man's way of thinking should I have accused my doctors of neglect and murder for not putting me on Heparin from day one!!!?? Bobby Franklin needs to step away from the podium in a big way.

I'm in Nevada, a mother of two, and I've lost two. This story is making its way around the country... I had it passed to me by a friend and am relieved that almost every response I've found from locals is similar to mine. There was a tiny fear he was rightfully representing his district!

I hope one of you fine level headed folks bites the bullet and files paperwork to be on the ballot. Even if you don't fundraise I hope I hear a story in 2012 about a no name candidate who won in a landslide victory to represent the rational people of your district. Good luck to you all... And know the country is watching with great hope.

Sadly, it is the idiots in our state legislature who will be known throughout the country. This man is not worthy of the office and those who continue to vote for him are not worthy of the privilege of voting. As a Democrat I might as well file paperwork in my cat's name for the likelihood that I could be elected. Democrats and Republicans must work together to rid the state of any legislator who shows no respect for his position or for his constituents.
To those who live outside Georgia I would like to assure you that we are not all ignorant rednecks. It is time for Bobby Franklin and his like to be removed from office!

You hit the nail on the head Ann. I had a miscarriage 3 months ago and I am just stating to feel "normal" again. We as women have more than ENOUGH to deal with when having a miscarriage. Having some criminalize us and enforce investigations for a "cause" is so insulting, disrespectful and intrusive. While we are grieving we would also have to deal with the pain of govt blaming us for MURDER, over a child we obviously lost in a painful, yet natural and common circumstance. Unbelieveble how people like this are who we put in charge of making laws over our lives. Makes me want to move far, far away. I wonder if he would feel the same if his wife or daughter had a miscarriage??? It's not murder asshole, I would've gladly exchanged my life if it meant my baby could have lived. I've been told by every doctor, women, family & friend that it was NOT my fault, there's nothing we could've done to prevent it and it happens to 1 in FOUR women. I don't need some douchebag like this telling me it was my fault and not I am going to be punished for it. God forgive him for the wrath he is going to feel from women everywhere.

Mrs. Harris, as someone who has experienced four devastating late-first-trimester miscarriages as well as two very early losses, I can empathize with you on the loss of your precious baby. But, you are completely off-base in your assessment of H.B.1 and have fallen for ludicrous neo-con and liberal propaganda.

Apparently, you failed to read this portion of the bill:

" 'Prenatal murder' means the *intentional* removal of a fetus from a woman with an intention other than to produce a live birth or to remove a dead fetus; provided, however, that if a physician makes a medically justified effort to save the lives of both the mother and the fetus and the fetus does not survive, such action shall not be prenatal murder. Such term does not include a naturally occurring expulsion of a fetus known medically as a 'spontaneous abortion' and popularly as a 'miscarriage' so long as there is no human involvement whatsoever in the causation of such event."

This bill is one of Bobby Franklin's greatest legacies and I support it 100%. I only wish he were still alive to continue fighting the pro-life fight.

May he rest in peace. No matter his political beliefs.

Whether we agree or disagree on his bills, he was a passionate man dedicated to the state of Georgia and his beliefs. May he rest in peace.

Please note - this 'Neighbor's Vent' article was written by Northeast Cobb resident Ann H. Her signature is at the bottom of the article. My name appears on the column because I created the 'Neighbor's Vent' column.