Ohio Abortion Ban Legislation Introduced
ANTI-CHOICE LEGISLATORS INTRODUCE ABORTION BAN AS DIRECT ATTACK ON ROE V. WADE Bill Would Make Performing ANY Abortion Illegal, Even in Cases of Rape, Incest, or to Save the Health or Life of the Pregnant Woman (Cleveland, OH) Anti-choice legislators in Ohio introduced a bill that would outlaw all abortions throughout pregnancy, without exception—an unconstitutional proposal designed to push the issue into the courts to enable the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Rep. Tom Brinkman, along with 16 other co-sponsors, introduced HB 228 to make performing any abortion in the state of Ohio a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison, without exception. “This bill is simply outrageous and violates the core American values of freedom, privacy and responsibility,” said Kellie Copeland, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. “It is completely unconstitutional and endangers the health and lives of women in Ohio. Not only would performing an abortion be a felony, this bill would make it a felony to help a woman obtain an abortion-no exceptions, even to save the life or health of a woman or in instances of rape or incest,” said Copeland. “Rep. Brinkman is reminding Ohioans what’s at stake in the looming battle over the U.S. Supreme Court. If President Bush succeeds in putting an anti-choice activist on the court, then it’s likely that justice would rule in a case involving laws like this one that would eliminate women’s freedom to choose.” As reported in The Columbus Dispatch, this legislation is meant as a direct attack on Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that legalized a woman’s right to choose. Rep. Brinkman said in an earlier press statement “. . . Ohio is a front-runner for upholding moral values. Ohio legislators and their constituents are ready for this bold legislation that again demonstrates Ohio's leadership.” In addition to criminalizing performing any abortion in the state of Ohio, HB 228 even attempts to eliminate Ohio women’s ability to seek medical care in other states, by making it illegal to transport a woman to obtain an abortion in another state. This would even mean potential prison time for a husband that accompanies his wife to another state to receive abortion services necessary to preserve her life or health.
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