Louisiana anti-abortion group rallies at state Capitol for Roe v. Wade

Louisiana ladies opposing abortion rights rallied on the state Capitol steps Tuesday in hopeful anticipation of the Supreme Courtroom overturning Roe v. Wade however conflicted over a invoice advancing right here that might cost ladies who’ve abortions with homicide.

“We’re ladies supporting ladies and infants as we close to a historic milestone,” mentioned Democratic state Sen. Katrina Jackson of Monroe.

All 5 ladies within the Louisiana Senate — three Republicans and two Democrats — oppose abortion.

“Now we have been right here for 50 years advocating for all times and most of the ladies right here have led that struggle,” mentioned Republican Sen. Sharon Hewitt of Slidell.

Each lady senator in Louisiana opposes abortion rights

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In the meantime, although, the Home is getting ready to debate Republican Rep. Danny McCormick’s Home Invoice 813 that will criminalize ladies who’ve abortions, ignore the Supreme Courtroom it if would not overturn Roe, render some types of contraception unlawful and threaten in vitro fertilization.

McCormick’s invoice has drawn opposition from the state’s two strongest anti-abortion advocates — Louisiana Proper to Life and Household Discussion board.

Louisiana Proper to Life has mentioned McCormick’s invoice is pointless as a result of the state handed a “set off regulation” in 2006 that can make abortion unlawful if the Supreme Courtroom overturns Roe v. Wade and contradicts its purpose to guard ladies.

Gene Mills of Louisiana Household Discussion board, a Christian-based political advocacy group, advised USA At present Community McCormick’s measure “is poorly written, excessively imprecise and is not prone to stand up to (authorized) scrutiny.”

Jackson, who authored the modification to the Louisiana Structure declaring there isn’t any proper to and no funding of abortion that voters overwhelmingly permitted in 2020, mentioned she will be able to’t assist a invoice that will criminalize ladies.

“The purpose needs to be to avoid wasting infants and assist moms, not jail them,” Jackson mentioned.

Senate Invoice 388 by Hewitt would make it unlawful for corporations to offer the 2 medicine — mifepristone and misoprostol — by way of the mail with felony penalties as penalties, however she particularly exempted ladies from felony penalties.

“My place is constant — prosecute these helping in abortion and defend pregnant ladies and supply them the sources and assist they want,” she mentioned.

However others who attended Tuesday’s rally lead by the Louisiana Proper to Life and that includes the Louisiana Federation of Republican Ladies consider McCormick’s invoice is the right path.

“If abortion is homicide, which it’s, then homicide is against the law,” mentioned Susan Raborn of Baton Rouge, an anti-abortion rights advocate who usually testifies on payments about abortion. “Solely when there are extreme penalties will it finish.”

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McCormick mentioned leaders of the nationwide anti-abortion advocate group Finish Abortion Now traveled to Louisiana Tuesday to assist his invoice and supply info to his colleagues within the Home.

The invoice, which is scheduled for debate within the Home Thursday, was superior on a 7-2 vote by members of the Home Felony Justice Committee.

“It is time to have this debate,” McCormick mentioned Tuesday.

A number of the Home’s most staunch anti-abortion advocates are on the fence.

“I do not understand how I will vote, however I respect his invoice,” mentioned Republican Rep. Beryl Amedee of Houma. “It is time for society to have an sincere dialog about when life begins.” 

“The purpose of my invoice is not to lock ladies up however to offer the identical protections to the pre-born because the born, and that, in flip, presents penalties for murder which will consequence within the mom being put in jail,” McCormick mentioned. “Who’s at fault if the mom’s not?”

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Community of Louisiana. Observe him on Twitter @GregHilburn1