RAINN RESPONDS: REP. AKIN’S CLAIM IS RIDICULOUS

Rainn.comrn

As all Americans know by now, Rep. Todd Akin last week told a St. Louis TV station thatrnwomen do not become pregnant as a result of rape.  If it's a legitimate rape, the female bodyrnhas ways to try to shut that whole thing down, he said.  RAINN quickly responded, saying in arnstatement to media, Simply put, Rep. Akin's claim is ridiculous.  While there was such a timernwhen it was commonly believed that pregnancy couldn't result from rape, that time was hundreds ofrnyears ago.  Now we know better.  Each year, thousands of women become pregnant as thernresult of rape, and many more survivors are faced with PTSD, depression and other long-term resultsrnof the crime.  Supporting survivors and recognizing the impact of the crime on them is thernvery least we should expect from our political leaders.