“Let’s make something very clear. Rape is a crime,” the governor said Tuesday.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott defended his state’s controversial abortion law on Tuesday, vowing to “eliminate rape” when asked by a reporter why he would sign a law that forces rape and incest victims to carry a pregnancy to term. Abbott, a Republican, said the bill does not mandate they do so, as it allows abortions up to six weeks. However, reproductive rights advocates have pointed out that many pregnancies are not detected within six weeks. “Let’s make something very clear. Rape is a crime,” Abbott said. “And Texas will work tirelessly to make sure that we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas by aggressively going out and arresting them and prosecuting them and getting them off the streets. Goal number one in the state of Texas is to eliminate rape so that no woman, no person will be a victim of rape.” He added that it is important to provide support for rape victims through organizations supported by the state and others.
