(Mis)interpreting the Pharmacist Protection Act

A story Monday in the Georgia Red and Black addressed concerns that the recently passed Senate Bill 123, or "Pharmacists' Protection Act," would contribute to emergency contraceptives becoming less available at pharmacies on campus and around the state.

"Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson, a co-sponsor of the Pharmacists' Protection Act (along with Lt. Governor candidate Casey Cagle), said that Plan B, commonly referred to as "emergency contraception" or the "morning after pill," would not be affected by the legislation," reported Brian Hughes in his story "Bill limits abortion pill sales."

The UGA College Republicans were asked their view on this bill, as were the Young Democrats, whose President Yvonne Williams, Hughes wrote, "was fearful the legislation would be used in the future to pertain to contraception as well."

"College Republicans spokesman Jeff Emanuel," the article continued,

"said he believes most Republicans favor the legislation, but would not support it being extended to contraception.

“We support the letter of the law, which only relates to medicine terminating pregnancy,” he said. Emanuel said there will be a simple solution for those who can’t find the medicine they are looking for at a particular pharmacy. “You can always go somewhere else,” he said.

Emanuel used Wal-Mart, which agreed last week to sell emergency contraception in its pharmacies, as an example of how the free market operated. “(Wal-Mart) listened to the demands of their customers,” he said. “Companies will always provide what customers want.”

Emanuel recently defended the bill in a national column published by Townhall.com Friday. The Pharmacists' Protection Act and two other pregnancy-related Senate Bills, SB 429 (the "Ultrasound Act") and SB 77 (the feticide bill which is Georgia's version of California's "Connor's Law") were voted on and passed by the state Senate last week, and now await Governor Sonny Perdue's signature.