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Oklahoma governor signs near-total ban on abortion into law
“As governor, I symbolize all 4 million Oklahomans they usually overwhelmingly assist defending life within the state of Oklahoma. We wish Oklahoma to be essentially the most pro-life state within the nation. We wish to outlaw abortion within the state of Oklahoma,” the governor mentioned.
Underneath the measure, the girl wouldn’t be criminally charged or convicted for the loss of life of her “unborn baby.” The laws doesn’t prohibit the use, sale, prescription or administration of contraceptives.
The governor was joined on the signing by members of the Oklahoma legislature, religion leaders from throughout the state, in addition to representatives from anti-abortion advocacy teams.
“I do know this invoice will probably be challenged instantly by liberal activists from the coast, who at all times appear to wish to are available and dictate, and mandate, and problem our lifestyle right here within the state of Oklahoma. Crucial factor is to take a stand and defend the unborn and defend life within the state of Oklahoma,” Stitt added.
Oklahoma Republican state Rep. Jim Olsen, SB 612’s principal Home creator, beforehand instructed CNN that he believes “rape and incest is a horrible crime” and although the newborn is conceived in a “horrible state of affairs” that it “nonetheless has a proper to life.” “The newborn shouldn’t be chargeable for the sins of the daddy,” he mentioned. “It is nonetheless a life.”
White Home press secretary Jen Psaki condemned the legislation, calling it “one of the vital excessive state legal guidelines signed into legislation to this point.” In her assertion Tuesday, Psaki additionally urged Congress to go the Lady’s Well being Safety Act, which might codify Roe v. Wade, after the laws failed to beat Senate hurdles in February, with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia becoming a member of Republicans to dam its passage.
“Make no mistake: the actions right now in Oklahoma are part of disturbing nationwide development attacking ladies’s rights and the Biden Administration will proceed to face with ladies in Oklahoma and throughout the nation within the struggle to defend their freedom to make their very own decisions about their futures,” she mentioned.
The invoice had been decried by abortion rights proponents all through the legislative course of, together with the Deliberate Parenthood Motion Fund, which mentioned final week that the legislation “can be devastating” for Oklahomans and likewise Texans, who make up practically half of the sufferers who search abortion care in Oklahoma.
“We’ll struggle again towards these merciless bans in courtroom as a result of individuals should not should cross state strains in secret to entry care that ought to be out there of their communities,” Emily Wales, interim president and CEO of Deliberate Parenthood Nice Plains Votes, mentioned in a press release launched following the signing.
This headline and story have been up to date with further developments Tuesday.
CNN’s Amy Simonson and Shania Shelton contributed to this report.