Count Oklahoma among the states that will nearly outlaw all abortions in the event the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
Passed in the Oklahoma House on Thursday with a vote of 73-16, the bill aims to have the strictest anti-abortion laws in the nation, banning the practice after conception with only a few exceptions thereafter for rape and incest, but only if such a crime has been reported to law enforcement. Similar to the Texas law, the bill also allows other citizens to file a lawsuit against anyone who “aids or abets” someone in having an abortion. Per the New York Times:
The measure is modeled on a law that took effect in Texas in September, which has relied on civilian instead of criminal enforcement to work around court challenges. Because of that provision — the law explicitly says state authorities cannot bring charges — the U.S. Supreme Court and state courts have said they cannot block the ban from taking effect, even if it goes against the constitutional right to abortion established in Roe v. Wade.
The Oklahoma ban goes further than the Texas law, which bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy.
“There can be nothing higher or more critical than the defense of innocent, unborn life,” Republican State Rep. Jim Olsen said on the Oklahoma House floor Thursday.
via joemiller
