I’ve really already commented upon this elsewhere, but it’s one of those issues that just doesn’t seem to want to die; I keep seeing the same mistake again and again.

So in a non-abortive attempt to simultaneously address this while reserving my “real” article for Monday, I thought I’d point out yet another example of the misunderstanding and a simple, straightforward counter-example showing what’s wrong with the thinking.

Granted, the example isn’t exactly “fresh” — the blog entry on Reagan-Era Child is from March — but it’s not that long ago, either. And I have heard oral versions of this argument as recently as the last couple of weeks.

The post, in its entirety, says,

I’m not a legal scholar, but does anyone see a problem with “Lacy and Conner’s” Law? Abortion is legal. A mother can kill her child without punishment, but if someone else kills that mother while she’s pregnant the killer is guilty on two counts of murder. This is a legal quandry. It’s only murder when someone besides the mother kills her fetus. I’m pro-choice, but I also believe you can’t have it both ways. Killing an unborn child is either murder or it’s not. — Confused & Unidentified 20-something Female Living in the Magnificent Pacific Northwest, “Slippery Slope,” Reagan-Era Child (March 25, 2004; last visited August 21, 2004.)

I suppose it’s fitting that such confusion comes from a Reagan-Era Child.

Counter-example: A police officer can kill an adult human being without punishment, but if someone else kills an adult human being the killer is guilty on a count of murder.

That really should be enough said.

On Monday, I’ll be publishing an article relating to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. As you’ll see then, they aren’t so swift; they were on the wrong boat; and they don’t appear to be interested in truth.

Well, one out of four — that ain’t bad, nu?

It will be another of my new “style” of articles that combines a discussion of a contemporary issue or event with a discusion of an important legal case. In the case of the Swifties, we’ll take a look at New York Times v. Sullivan 376 U.S. 254 (1964). The article is already written; it just doesn’t make sense to post it on a weekend.