US State of Oklahoma Bans Most Abortions
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed legislation on Tuesday, 12 April that bans most abortions in that state. The legislation requires that doctors convicted of performing an abortion would receive up to 10 years of prison time and a $100,000 fine.
The law was authored by State Senator Nathan Dahm. He said the new law is the “strongest pro-life legislation in the country right now, which effectively eliminates abortion in Oklahoma.”
Governor Stitt had promised in his campaign for office that he would sign any piece of pro-life legislation passed by the Legislature. During the signing ceremony, Governor Stitt said, “We want to outlaw abortion in the State of Oklahoma. I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every pro-life bill that hits my desk, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”
The new law, which takes effect in 90 days, also outlaws doctors in the state from prescribing medications to cause an abortion. Statistics say that 64% of all abortions in the state in 2020 were from medications.
Oklahoma is one of the most politically and morally conservative states in the US. After the law takes effect, the only abortions to remain legal will be those to save the life of a mother.
Opponents characterised the legislation as an attack on women’s rights.
The US Supreme Court is likely to reconsider the matter of the constitutionality of abortion within the next year. Trends seem to indicate that the court will overturn Roe vs Wade, which legalised the taking the lives of unborn babies across the nation and send the matter back to the individual states and legislatures to decide.
