Pro-Life Victory as Pro-life Legislation Succeeds in Two Key States

On April 12, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Bill 612 to ban all abortions in Oklahoma with the exception of the mother’s life being at risk. The bill passed with a strong majority of 70-14 in the House sponsored by state Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow. Felony charges were also created of up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine for abortionists who break the ban. “We want Oklahoma to be the most pro-life state in the country. We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma.” declared Gov. Stitt on the day of his signing. Oklahoma ‘s state health statistics estimate 4,000 babies have been aborted annually, which according to Emily Wales, interim president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, may be an outdated statistic. Planned Parenthood Centres in Oklahoma increased their clientele by 800 percent after the Texas heartbeat law went into effect in September and more women sought abortion outside Texas. Stitt said the bill “will take care” of out of state abortions. “Oklahoma has enacted some of the nation’s strongest protections for unborn children and their mothers, which could save as many as 3,800 lives a year.” praised Marjorie Dannenfelser. Researchers of the Guttmacher Institute have also estimated that abortion numbers would drop by about 120,000 in the first year and potentially even more in subsequent years if the high court allows states to ban abortions again. With the anticipation that the Supreme Court may overturn Roe. lawmakers have introduced hundreds of pro-life bills across the states. 

Kentucky has opposed Democrat Gov Andy Beshear ‘s veto on the recently proposed bill, Senate Bill 321 making abortion illegal after 15 weeks. The bill was passed supported by state Sen. Max Wise, R-Adair on April 13 a week after the veto was announced. Like the Mississippi law being considered in this spring, Bill 321 would end abortion after 15 weeks with unless there is a threat to the mother’s life and would required cremation or burial services for the unborn killed after 15 weeks. It would also mandate those proscribing abortion drugs to be to be registered with the state pharmacy board. Pro-lifers hope this and similar events will prompt the Supreme Court to overturn Roe.

The national pro-life group, Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List)’s president, Marjorie Dannenfelser thanked the state saying,”Like most Americans, Kentuckians want commonsense safeguards for unborn babies and their mothers and reject abortion on demand. We thank all our allies who fought to get this legislation across the finish line, and we hope the U.S. Supreme Court will soon allow the people and their legislators nationwide to enact laws that save lives.” SBA List’s research source, the Charlotte Lozier Institute “estimates that 344 abortions at 15 weeks’ gestation or later were performed in Kentucky in 2020. Additionally, chemical abortions rose 13%, composing 51% of the 4,104 abortions performed in the state that year” while the state health department of Kentucky estimated almost 300 unborn babies aborted after 15 weeks the same year. Supposing the Mississippi law is upheld in Supreme Court, Wise stated the bill would be effective immediately. He says, “...Roe was based upon what is now outdated and erroneous understandings of the viability of an unborn child.” (Roe v. Wade in 1973 legalized abortions for all cases rather than the exception of the mother’s health and allowed for abortions up to birth.) If the Supreme Court only limits abortions through the Mississippi case, still allowing unborn babies to be aborted in the first trimester but allowing states to ban them after 15 weeks, Kentucky, Florida, and other states have introduced 15-week abortion bans. 

 

Sources:   https://www.lifenews.com/2022/04/12/oklahoma-gov-kevin-stitt-signs-abortion-ban-that-will-save-4000-unborn-babies-a-year/
https://www.lifenews.com/2022/04/13/kentucky-legislature-overrides-democrat-gov-passes-bill-to-ban-killing-babies-in-abortions-after-15-weeks/