CBS News & Eric W. Dolan / Raw Story – 2012-08-24 00:42:22
NH Sheriff Candidate Would Use Deadly Force To Stop Abortions
NH Sheriff Candidate Would Use Deadly Force To Stop Abortions
CBS
MANCHESTER, NH (August 22, 2012) — A man running for sheriff in New Hampshire says if he is elected, he will arrest anyone involved in an abortion in his county.
Frank Szabo set off a firestorm with the comments. People on all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the statements, but Szabo stands by them. He says it’s the sheriff’s job to protect every citizen — even the unborn.
Szabo is running as a Republican for Hillsborough County Sheriff. But he injected a new issue in the debate when he sent out a press release saying he would arrest anyone performing an abortion.
He took it a step further when asked how far he’d go to stop one.
“Deadly force is the last thing law enforcement should be using, if a citizen’s life is in danger they should be protected,” says Szabo. “If there is no other choice, that’s what’s needed to protect the citizen.”
Republicans called Szabo’s statement, “Irresponsible, outrageous, and inappropriate.” Democrats said, “Every Republican officeholder and candidate in New Hampshire must condemn and reject this man and his beliefs.” His opponent, current Hillsborough County Sheriff James Hardy says Szbao’s statement could incite violence.
“My opponent wants to substitute his opinions for enforcing the law,” says Sheriff Hardy. And voters in downtown Manchester seemed surprised abortion was even an issue the sheriff’s race. “I’m not sure how he feels he can get away with that,” said one woman. “I think people have strong opinions and it would influence how they vote,” said another woman.
Szabo isn’t backing down. He says, “Why is there a difference between someone who is 20 years old and their life is in danger and someone who is nine months in utero.”
Szabo will face off against the current sheriff in the Republican primary next month.
Sheriff Candidate Would Use Deadly Force to Stop Abortions
Eric W. Dolan / Raw Story
NEW HAMPSHIRE (August 22, 2012) — A candidate for sheriff in New Hampshire said Wednesday that he would be willing to use deadly force to prevent a woman from terminating her pregnancy.
“I would respond specifically by saying that if someone is under threat, a full-grown human being, if they’re under threat, what should the sheriff do? Everything in their power to prevent them from being harmed,” Frank Szabo, the Republican candidate for Hillsborough County Sheriff, told WMUR.
When asked about using deadly force to prevent an abortion, he replied, “I would hope that it wouldn’t come to that, as with any situation where someone is in danger, but again, specifically talking about elective abortions and late-term abortions, that is an act that needs to be stopped.”
Szabo has previously said he would arrest anyone involved in performing an abortion, claiming it is equivalent to murder. He told CBS News that he would only use deadly force “if there is no other choice.”
“Why is there a difference between someone who is 20 years old and their life is in danger and someone who is nine months in utero,” Szabo said.
On his Facebook page, Szabo claims that sheriffs in the United States have broad powers and are duty-bound to prevent any action they deem to be unconstitutional.
He also said that as sheriff he would stop the United Nation’s sustainable development plan known as Agenda 21, which some conspiracy theorists claim is a plot to force “communitarianism” on Americans.
Republican House Speaker Bill O’Brien has called for Szabo to drop out of the race.
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