A reproductive health bill introduced by California Assembly member Buffy Wicks was misinterpreted on social media, fact-checkers report

A bill introduced by California Assembly member Buffy Wicks was misinterpreted on social media. According to Wicks, the bill ensures that people are not investigated, prosecuted or incarcerated for ending a pregnancy, experiencing pregnancy loss or for losing a newborn baby due to a pregnancy-related cause.

Articles and social media posts suggesting a proposed California reproductive health bill would legalize the killing of newborn babies has been misinterpreted.

A California lawmaker proposed a bill meant to prevent the prosecution and incarceration of those who end their pregnancy, experience pregnancy loss or lose a baby after it is born due to a pregnancy-related cause. It wouldn’t legalize murdering newborns.

What people are saying?

Right-Privileged The fact that they had to submit amendments to “clarify” the language is a pretty clear indicator that the original bill would’ve allowed baby murder up to 7 days after birth. Surely an oversight and not the intention of the law, but definitely a credible reason for outrage.

Gramnagorb Great use of the fact check to show what was in error and how it could easily be rectified. If lawmakers are paying attention, here’s your caveat. Correct, precise language matters when you are crafting laws.