The most popular, lazy theory for Republican renewal is some version of this: “We’ve got to stop nominating Republicans who make rape gaffes! Don’t talk about rape!” But the Todd Akins of the world don’t “talk about rape” because they’re venal. They talk about it because they deeply believe that life begins at the moment of conception. Most Republicans do.

Which brings us to Rep. Cathrynn Brown’s House Bill 206 in New Mexico.

Tampering with evidence shall include procuring or facilitating an abortion, or compelling or coercing another to obtain an abortion, of a fetus that is the result of criminal sexual penetration or incest with the intent to destroy evidence of the crime.

If this became law, and you were raped and got pregnant, aborting that pregnancy would amount to evidence-tampering, a first-degree felony.