There are better ways to reduce abortions besides forced castration, as reportedly suggested by a DuPage County area lawmaker earlier this month, said state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) to SE Illinois News during a recent interview.
"I definitely disagree with forced castration, forced sterilization or the neutering of men or women," Bailey said during an email interview. "We are not dogs and cats. Men and women both need to be responsible for their actions and learn to understand and live the consequences of their actions. That includes the possibility of pregnancy when they have sex."
A better idea would be to help women who might be considering abortions, Bailey said.
Illinois state House Rep. Diane Pappas (D-Itasca)
| facebook.com/DianeForStateRep
"Abortions are used as the 'easy way out' of a situation by many," he said. "Children should not be thought of as expendable like that. We need to help women find the resources they need to be good mothers if they choose to become a mom and do not feel like they are ready or able. We need to help educate them that there are adoption possibilities."
Bailey, a farmer, is a freshman lawmaker who began representing the 109th Illinois state House District in January, following the victory over his Democratic challenger Cynthia Given in November.
The 109th District includes all of Edwards, Jasper, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White counties and parts of Effingham and Lawrence counties.
Bailey's comments came days after Wayne Township Republican trustee Jackie Hayden's published allegations that state Rep. Diane Pappas (D-Itasca) suggested forced castration would be a way to reduce abortions numbers.
Hayden reported that Pappas said, "You know ladies, with technology the way it is, we wouldn't have an abortion problem if we applied a plan. Now, I've been told it's a bit radical, but if we allowed men to be castrated, took the sperm to the bank, collected tax dollars on it for storage, then when it's time, to have the man decide he's ready to begin a family ... well then problem is solved!"
Hayden said Pappas made the comment when Hayden and "a group of concerned citizens" met with Pappas at the lawmaker's district office in Bloomingdale earlier this month to discuss the Reproductive Health Act, House Bill 2495.
HB 2495, which Hayden said would make Illinois the most unrestricted abortion access state in the nation, has been in the House Rules Committee.
Pappas, also a freshman lawmaker who defeated Republican incumbent Christine Winger in November to take over the state House 45th District seat, has not responded to requests for additional comment following publication of Hayden's allegations.
The 45th District is in northern DuPage County and includes all or parts of Addison, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Itasca, Medinah, Roselle, Wayne, West Chicago, and Wood Dale.
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