“The Most Basic Human Right,” Republican Senator Richard Briggs Doubles Down on Weakening Abortion Law In Tennessee
Image: Tennessee State Senators Becky Massey & Richard Briggs Image Credit: State Senator Richard Briggs / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville-District 7) has been working to undo, piece by piece, Tennessee’s “Human Life Protection Act” that he helped pass back in 2019.
Sen. Briggs is currently trying to garner support for a new piece of legislation he calls the “Freedom to Have Children and a Family Act,” which would weaken Tennessee’s current abortion law under the guise that healthcare providers are not able to properly treat women which could lead to infertility or the death of a mother.
“That is the most basic human right we have,” said Briggs, “is the right for a couple to be able to have children and a family.”
Besides the flawed logic behind this idea that humans have an inherent right to have children or an inherent right to have a family, Briggs seems to be focusing on this idea in an attempt to convince his conservative constituents that he is fighting for something good.
However, in a recent interview with NPR, Briggs was quite transparent about his intentions concerning abortion law.
While he voted for Tennessee’s “trigger law” otherwise known as the “Human Life Protection Act,” he did so under the expectation that Roe v. Wade would not be overturned.
“The truth was I thought it would never come to be,” he said.
“What, to me, is unacceptable is if you determine that there is a pregnancy that cannot live outside the womb and you’re going to force that woman to carry that to term,” Briggs continued.
Even now with the “trigger law” in place, abortion is not entirely banned in Tennessee.
Penalties for breaking abortion law are currently on providers only, with no penalties for the woman seeking out an abortion.
There is also the issue of non-traditional methods of abortion like mail-order abortion pills which have quickly gained traction across the country.
Ultimately, the goal of Briggs’ “Freedom to Have Children and a Family Act” is “to give more authority to doctors to terminate these kinds of pregnancies and lessen criminal penalties.”
According to Tennessee Right to Life’s Legal Counsel, Will Brewer, Briggs’ bill creates exceptions for abortions that are too broad.
“Bad faith actors can fit a lot of things into that exception and get away with it,” Brewer said.
Briggs appears determined to break down the protections that he helped establish for babies in the womb, between his efforts last year and the legislation he has proposed this year.
“Just because you pass a law,” Briggs said, “doesn’t mean it’s immutable and it’s never going to be changed.”
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee.
You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
Briggs needs to identify as democrat. That’s what he is. It’s a disgrace for him to be allowed to run as a Republican. Shame on the State GOP!
Agreed!
You can be a Repub and not support extreme abortion laws. It’s cruel to force a girl to have a rapists baby. Since 1975 there have been 20 million abortions. 90% were to unwed unemployed women. If those had been born, the Dems would have total control and America would be a socialist nation.
Another satan worshipping, baby killing pedophile with an “R” next to their name in TN. That seems to describe 95% of TN Republican politicians, and the populace doesn’t even pay attention. TN will be CA within a few cycles.
The murdering Tennessee Republican Pfizer Contingent must be eliminated.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N0XJMDsOcSrPXrPkcZU_2svjZg4ZqhqQ/preview
Briggs obviously doesn’t know what a RIGHT is. That tells me he also doesn’t understand the Constitution, which is the SUPREME law of our land. He doesn’t deserve to be in government. When he can clearly and correctly define a “right”, I might consider changing my opinion. He needs to go.
this is how a red state turns blue..A few RINOS try to appease liberal Dmocrats and finally get voted out by Dems, because conservative Republicans will stop voting for them. Dems are pretty set in their “standards”. I perceive that our RINOS really have no set “standards”
Satan has Briggs and a lot of others by the horns. He is also saving an eternal home for these people. In the case of rape they could have the baby and give it up for adoption. There are plenty couples that want to have a child that can’t.