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Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

Oklahoma Bill Signals Growing Push to Prosecute People Who Have Abortions

Author:     Shefali Luthra
Source:     truthout
Publication Date:     January 14, 2023
 Link: Oklahoma Bill Signals Growing Push to Prosecute People Who Have Abortions
Stephan:  

In Republican-controlled states I am seeing an increasing attempt to pass state legislation to persecute women who go out of state to obtain an abortion, or who buy medications from out of state that induce abortion. I also see increasing violence arising over this and other issues Republicans do not like. This is significantly increasing The Great Schism Trend, and by the 2024 election, I am afraid violence will become a major element in American elections. The Republican drive to subordinate women has become a major element in that party's gestalt. Here is the latest from Red state Oklahoma.

Dr. Franz Theard prepares doses of Mifepristone, the abortion pill, in his clinic in Santa Teresa, New Mexico on May 7, 2022.
Credit: Paul Ratje / The Washington Post / Getty

As state lawmakers weigh new restrictions on abortion, some Republicans are revisiting a longstanding taboo of not prosecuting pregnant people for seeking abortions in places where the procedure is banned, though the topic remains divisive among anti-abortion advocates.

State restrictions have so far fallen just shy of imposing criminal penalties on people who seek abortions, instead targeting physicians, health care providers and anyone else who might help someone get an abortion.

But that may be changing. A bill introduced Thursday in Oklahoma’s Senate would amend the state’s abortion restrictions, eliminating language that clarifies pregnant people are protected from prosecution. Under that bill, which has not yet been assigned to a legislative committee and has no co-sponsors yet, pregnant people could face felony charges if they induce an abortion. The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Warren Hamilton, did not respond to a request for comment.

The legislation follows remarks made earlier […]

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