FIRST BITE

 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday defended a new state law banning most abortions that also does not provide exceptions for cases of rape or incest, saying it does not force victims to give birth  -- even though it prohibits abortions before some women know they're pregnant.

While taking questions during his first press conference since the law took effect last week Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday added that Texas would strive to eliminate all rapists from the streets.

“Texas will work tirelessly to make sure that we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas by aggressively going out and arresting them and prosecuting them," Abbott said.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS September 8, 20219:41 AM ET

To this weary observer of the vagaries of society it would seem desirable to arrest these rapists BEFORE the commission of their first rape. And yet somehow it seems contrary to established legal practice to arrest someone before he commits a crime.

Abbott seems to implicitly support the philosophy that “every dog is entitled to one bite.”

Can't he extend the same courtesy to those women who are victimized?