By Tara Culp-Ressler on Jul 12, 2013 at 4:08 pm
On Friday afternoon, the Texas Senate will vote on a package of abortion restrictions that Republican lawmakers have been attempting to push through a special session. After State Sen. Wendy Davis (D-TX) successfully blocked a vote on the legislation last month with a 13-hour filibuster that was aided by disruptions from hundreds of protesters in the gallery, Senate Republicans aren’t taking any chances this time.
According to Jessica Luther, a freelance writer and pro-choice activist who has been coordinating much of the push-back to the proposed abortion restrictions over the past few weeks, Senate officials are confiscating any objects they believe may cause a similar disruption in the gallery during Friday’s vote. Protesters aren’t allowed to carry water bottles or even feminine hygiene products, just in case they might throw them at lawmakers:
Even though the Texas legislature may not be comfortable with feminine hygiene products, it’s a bit more relaxed when it comes to firearms. Individuals with concealed carry licenses are permitted to bring their guns into the Senate gallery. In fact, a Texas Republican recently insinuated he might do just that during the current special session.
In a recent interview with the National Review Online, state Rep. Jonathan Strickland (R) expressed concern over becoming the target of violence as thousands of angry pro-choice activists rally at the capitol. When asked whether those concerns would inspire him to carry a hidden gun this session, he said he couldn’t legally answer that question. But he did add, “I very, very often do concealed-carry, I can say that.”
Since activists aren’t allowed to carry tampons or pads on their person, they have asked supporters to send feminine products to the capitol building so they can stock the bathrooms for the women who may need them.
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The confiscation of Tampons and Kotex at the Texas Statehouse started a trend on Twitter: #FamousTamponQuotes. Some of the modified quotes were hilarious.
- Life, liberty, and the confiscation of tampons.
#FamousTamponQuotes#GOP - “Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Tampon Party?” ~ Sen Eugene McCarthy
#FamousTamponQuotes - When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a tampon
#FamousTamponQuotes - We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all tampons are created to annoy Republicans.
#FamousTamponQuotes - If they outlaw tampons, only outlaws will have tampons. CANNOT STOP LAUGHING
#TamponGate pic.twitter.com/Bbg9ifuy2Y - ROTFLMAO—RT “Take their tampons, pads, and uhh whats the third one?”—Rick Perry
#FamousTamponQuotes - The hills are alive with the sound of tampons!
#FamousTamponQuotes - “If it’s a legitimate tampon, the TX legislature has a way of shutting the whole thing down.”
#FamousTamponQuotes - “If its a legitimate tampon, the body has a way of shutting that whole thing down.”
#FamousTamponQuotes - “You put the tampon in, you take the tampon out, you put the tampon in, and you shake it all about!”
#FamousTamponQuotes - Look up in the sky its a bird, its a plane no its a Tampon!
#FamousTamponQuotes - I’ll Glady Pay You Tuesday For A Tampon Today.
#FamousTamponQuotes - I Have Only One Tampon To Give For My Country
#FamousTamponQuotes - You want the tampons? You can’t handle the tampons!
#FamousTamponQuotes#TamponGate - Is that a tampon in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
#FamousTamponQuotes - These are not the tampons you’re looking for – Obi Wan Kenobi
#FamousTamponQuotes - The Texas leg is a loony bin wrapped in a maxipad inside a tampon.
#FamousTamponQuotes - Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s tampon.
#FamousTamponQuotes#txlege#gop - Imagine if Texas had tried to take condoms from all the men entering state building on similar grounds?
#FamousTamponQuotes