Oklahoma governor signs new law raising penalties for performing abortions
Do you support or oppose the new Oklahoma abortion law?
Written by Casey Dawson, Countable News
What’s the story?
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed a bill into law on Tuesday that would stiffen the state’s restrictions on abortion by making performing an abortion a felony and significantly raising the maximum penalties from a previous version of the law.
The law is expected to face legal challenges before it takes effect and comes as the Supreme Court is set to issue a decision in the next few months on Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
What does the law do?
Oklahoma Senate Bill 612 makes it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. It does not authorize criminal charges against a pregnant woman for receiving an abortion.
The law includes only one exception — abortions performed “to save the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency.” There is no exception for cases of rape or incest.
What they’re saying
Sen. Nathan Dahm (R - OK) wrote the bill, calling it the “strongest pro-life legislation in the country right now, which effectively eliminates abortion in Oklahoma.”
Opponents of the bill say the law is unconstitutional. The National Abortion Federation’s chief program officer, Melissa Fowler, said in a statement: "The ban signed today is cruel and if it takes effect this summer, will have a devastating impact on people in Oklahoma, neighboring Texans, as well as an entire region facing attacks on their rights to abortion access.”
What’s next
The bill takes effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns at the end of May, unless courts intervene. Abortion rights groups have said they will challenge the law.
