March for Life Chicago Condemns Pritzker's Campaign to Make Illinois an Abortion Destination

March for Life Chicago called out Gov. J.B Pritzker for his recent comments indicating that he intends to make Illinois a destination for midwesterners seeking abortion; especially if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade in its upcoming Dobbs v. Jackson ruling.

“Governor Pritzker, do you really think out-of-state families want an Illinois tourism guide with a cover that reads: Welcome to the abortion capital of the Midwest?” responded March for Life Chicago Director Kevin Grillot. “Take a look at neighboring states and you will see that the Midwest is not a place for abortions, but a place for families.”

Pritzker signed a bill into law last year that repealed Illinois's only pro-life policy. The Parental Notice of Abortion Act required abortion businesses to notify the parents of a minor who schedules an abortion. That law went into effect June 1, 2022.

“As dedicated life advocates continue to win entire states, it will not be long before the Midwest pro-life movement is concentrated on Illinois. When that time comes, Governor Pritzker, what do you think the 78% of Illinois residents in favor of parental notification of abortion will do when they learn you repealed their parental rights?” Grillot continued.

“It’s about saving Midwestern lives, those of women and their children,” Grillot said. “We invite all Midwesterners to stand for life, especially following the release of the United States Supreme Court Dobbs decision which could overturn Roe v. Wade.”

“One opportunity for the people of Illinois and around the Midwest to affirm life is our upcoming Dobbs Life Rally and March on Saturday, July 9, 2022,” shared Grillot. That event is at 2 p.m. on Chicago’s Federal Plaza (50 West Adams).

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Guttmacher Report Shows Abortion Spike in 2020

The Guttmacher Institute released a new report on June 15 showing that the abortion rate increased by nearly 8% in 2020 compared to 2017. Until then, the abortion rate had been decreasing for 27 years.

930,160 unborn babies were aborted in 2020. Guttmacher's 2017 figure was 862,320. Roughly one in five unborn children in America (20.6%) were killed through abortion in 2020.

Regarding Illinois specifically, the report says,

"Abortion incidence increased 25% between 2017 and 2020, with almost all of the increase (24%) occurring between 2017 and 2019. Some of this was due to more people coming from surrounding states like Missouri, but abortion also increased substantially among Illinois residents. One likely contributing factor is that Illinois allowed the use of state Medicaid funds to pay for abortion care starting in January 2018. Another factor is Illinois had more abortion clinics in 2020 than in 2017 (30 and 25, respectively) and this also may have made abortion more accessible."

The report hypothesizes that the nationwide increases are the result of state laws expanding Medicaid funding, requiring private insurance to cover abortion, and allowing less qualified physicians to commit abortions. "Charitable" abortion funds paid for more abortions, and some states repealed pro-life laws during this period.

The Guttmacher Institute's reports are often considered to be more useful than numbers released by the US government. The institute is a pro-abortion organization that used to be directly affiliated with Planned Parenthood, but it has access to information that the US government does not. Many states do not require abortion businesses to report to them. Most notably, California, Maryland, and New Hampshire refuse to provide data for the CDC's abortion surveillance report.

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Iowa Supreme Court Rules There is No Right to Abortion in State Constitution

The Iowa Supreme Court issued a decision on June 17 ruling that the state's constitution does not include a fundamental right to abortion. The decision reinstates a 72-hour waiting period law, and it returns a 24-hour waiting period law to the district court.

Justice Edward M. Mansfield wrote the majority opinion for this case. He wrote that the Iowa Supreme Court's 2018 ruling establishing a right to abortion “insufficiently recognizes that future human lives are at stake and we must disagree with the views of today’s dissent that ‘[t]he state does not have a legitimate interest in protecting potential life before viability.'”

Mansfield also wrote about the often pro-abortion interpretations of stare decisis and "living" constitutions.

"PPH II [the 2018 decision] was overtly based on the notion of a “living” constitution…. To the extent PPH II viewed constitutional interpretation as an evolutionary process rather than a search for fixed meaning, it is hard now to argue that the evolutionary process had to end as soon as PPH II was decided. Does the Iowa Constitution get to “live” until 2018, at which point it must stop living?"

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds released a statement on Twitter applauding the court's ruling. “Today’s ruling is a significant victory in our fight to protect the unborn. The Iowa Supreme Court reversed its earlier 2018 decision, which made Iowa the most abortion-friendly state in the country. Every life is sacred and should be protected, and as long as I’m governor that is exactly what I will do.”

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Investigators: Suspect in Kavanaugh Assassination Attempt Called 911 Himself after Conversation with Sister

California man Nicholas Roske was arrested last week near US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home for an alleged assassination plot to kill the justice. According to police, Roske texted his sister after arriving in a taxi near Kavanaugh's home. She convinced him to call 911.

"The suspect arrived by taxi and observed the U.S. marshals, and he turned around to contemplate his next move," Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones said in a statement to the Washington Post. "This is when he texted his sister and told her of his intentions, and she convinced him to call 911, which he did."

The audio from Roske's 911 call is available here.

In the 15-minute phone call, Roske told the operator, "I need psychiatric help."

Roske told police that he was upset with the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. He was also angry about the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and he told police that he believed Kavanaugh would vote to loosen gun control laws.

When Roske was arrested, he was carrying a bag with a gun, ammunition, a knife, pepper spray, a screwdriver, zip ties, and other gear.

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National Right to Life Committee Proposes Model Post-Roe State Law to Protect Unborn

NRLC President Carol Tobias

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) on June 15 proposed a model law that states could use to protect the lives of unborn children if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. 

“For decades, National Right to Life and its state affiliates have led the effort to pass life-affirming laws at the state level that protect unborn children and their mothers – efforts that have drastically reduced the number of abortions and brought us to this moment in our nation’s history,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “With this model law, we are laying out a roadmap for the right-to-life movement so that, in a post-Roe society, we can protect many mothers and their children from the tragedy of abortion.”

The US Supreme Court's upcoming decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization has the potential to overturn Roe v. Wade and return the issue of abortion back to state legislators and the democratic process. If this happens, states could use the NRLC model to draft laws protecting the unborn.

Under the NRLC's model law, abortion would be prohibited except when necessary to prevent the death of the mother. Violations include committing an abortion, aiding and abetting an illegal abortion, trafficking in abortion drugs, and trafficking minors to obtain illegal abortions. The model law also ensures that the mother of the unborn child cannot face criminal penalties.

Local prosecutors and states' attorneys general would be able to enforce this law, but individuals could also file civil lawsuits against those who violate the law. Potential penalties include licensing revocation, compensatory damages to any plaintiff who has suffered from the abortion, punitive damages payable to pregnancy centers, and reasonable attorney's fees.

“In the event Roe v. Wade is overturned, states will have a significant opportunity to protect the unborn,” said James Bopp, Jr., general counsel for National Right to Life. “In doing so, it is important that such states not only prohibit illegal abortions, but also employ a robust enforcement regime, so that these laws are sure to be enforced.” He continued, “Our model law does just that. It builds on the substantial experience the right-to-life movement has had in developing pro-life legislation and we believe it presents the best opportunity to protect the unborn.”

Click here to read the text of the model law.

NY Gov. Signs Six Pro-Abortion Bills

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed six pro-life bills on June 13 that protect abortionists and punish pro-life advocates.

"Today, we are taking action to protect our service providers from the retaliatory actions of anti-abortion states and ensure that New York will always be a safe harbor for those seeking reproductive healthcare," Gov. Hochul said in a press release. "New York has always been a beacon for those yearning to be free. And I want the world to hear — loud and clear — that will not change."

The bills that Gov. Hochul signed into law are as follows:

S. 9039A creates a right to sue any person who attempts to stop or interfere with an abortion. According to Hochul's press release, "This will allow individuals to bring a claim against someone who has sued them or brought charges against them for facilitating, aiding, or obtaining reproductive health or endocrine care services in accordance with New York State Law."

S. 9077A prohibits New York law enforcement from cooperating with pro-life states during investigations of abortions that are considered legal in New York. Additionally, the law protects abortionists from being extradited to other states for abortion-related crimes.

S. 9079B prohibits "professional misconduct charges" against abortionists who commit or recommend abortions for women who reside in states where abortion is illegal.

S. 9080B prohibits medical malpractice insurance companies from “taking any adverse action” against an abortionist who commits an abortion for a woman from out of state.

S. 9384A allows abortionists to participate in New York's "address confidentiality program," for safety reasons.

S. 470 creates a task force to examine "the unmet health and resource needs facing pregnant people in New York." This task force will also study pro-life pregnancy centers; opening the door to future government action that would punish them for providing "limited services."

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California State Lawmakers Introduce Amendment to Create a State Right to Abortion

California lawmakers announced on June 12 that they are introducing an amendment that would create a right to abortion in the state's constitution.

As introduced by pro-abortion legislators, the amendment would “prohibit the state from denying or interfering with an individual’s reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion.”

If California legislators approve the amendment by a two-thirds majority in both houses, the amendment will be brought to November 2022 ballot for voters to approve.

This comes after Gov. Newsom announced that $125 million in state funding would pay for abortions, offer monetary incentives for abortionists, and pay for abortionists to move to California.

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President Biden Considering Executive Orders to Strengthen Abortion if Roe is Overturned

President Joe Biden
Screenshot from Jimmy Kimmel Live via YouTube

On Wednesday, June 8, President Joe Biden said on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" that he is considering executive actions that would minimize the life-saving impact of a potential Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

"I think if the court overrules Roe v. Wade,... we have to legislate it. We have to make sure we pass legislation making it a law..."

He went on to repeat his false claim that the leaked draft opinion from the Supreme Court would affect precedent in other issues such as same-sex marriage. He referenced Connecticut v. Griswold as a precedent that would be overturned if the Supreme Court moved forward with the draft. That decision ruled that the Constitution protected the liberty of couples to buy and use contraceptives.

The leaked draft opinion explicitly states that it does not undermine any rulings that are not related to abortion. Biden and pro-abortion advocates often repeat this deceptive argument.

"And you know, there's a whole range of things that are at stake here when we talk about eliminating Roe v. Wade," Biden said. "It's just ridiculous in my view. And I don't think the country will stand for it, but I think what we're gonna have to do are some executive orders... We're looking at that right now."

"Look," Biden continued. "It's clear that if in fact... these states impose the limitations they're talking about, it's gonna cause a mini-revolution. They're gonna vote a lot of these folks out of office."

Pro-abortion politicians and organizations have suggested a variety of executive actions that President Biden may or may not use. Examples include:

• Eliminating FDA restrictions on abortion drugs
• Creating travel vouchers that would use federal tax dollars to pay the expenses of women who must travel to get abortions
• Allowing abortionists to work on the federally-owned property in pro-life states

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Wisconsin Gov. Calls Special Session to Repeal State Abortion Ban

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D)

On Wednesday, June 8, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evans (D) signed an executive order calling a special legislative session to attempt to repeal the state's 1849 abortion ban. This comes as many expect the Supreme Court to override Roe v. Wade in its upcoming Dobbs v. Jackson decision. This would send the issue of abortion back to the states; allowing them to enforce laws like Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban.

The special session is set to take place at noon on June 22. In a statement, Gov. Evers said, A decision by Supreme Court to overturn Roe and decades of well-established precedent could have disastrous consequences for folks in every corner of our country.”

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R), in his own statement, said, “Killing innocent babies is not healthcare. We will gavel out of another blatantly political special session.” Republicans hold majorities in both of Wisconsin's legislative bodies.

“We are disappointed but not surprised by Governor Evers’ disregard for the lives of preborn children in Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin Right to Life’s legislative director, Gracie Skogman. “We urge our state legislators to protect Statute 940.04. Wisconsin Right to Life will continue to advocate for the right to life for all, to ensure that our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to be born and live in a state that defends life.”

Much like Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D), Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has stated that he will not enforce his state's abortion ban if Roe v. Wade is overturned.

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Armed Man Arrested Near Justice Kavanaugh's Home for Alleged Assassination Plot

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh

A California man was arrested near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home in Maryland at about 1:50 a.m. on June 8th. After his arrest, he reportedly told authorities that he was there to kill the justice. Initial reports indicate that he was motivated by the leaked draft opinion by the Supreme Court that could overturn Roe v. Wade.

MSNBC reporter Pete Williams said that the man carried a gun, knife, pepper spray, and burglary tools. The man arrived near Kavanaugh's home by taxi, but he was taken into police custody before he was able to get near the justice's home.

Washington Post reporters Devlin Barrett, Dan Morse, and Ellie Silverman wrote, “Two people familiar with the investigation said the initial evidence indicates that the man was angry about the leaked draft of an opinion by the Supreme Court signaling that the court is preparing to overturn Roe. v. Wade, the 49-year-old decision that guaranteed the constitutional right to have an abortion.”

The Washington Post further reported that, according to two anonymous sources familiar with the investigation, the police received a tip notifying them about the alleged assailant.

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Michigan Legislature Asks Court for Permission to Intervene in Lawsuit Against 1931 Abortion Law

On June 6, the Michigan legislature asked if it could be allowed to intervene in Planned Parenthood's lawsuit against the state's 1931 law banning abortion. This comes after the court issued a preliminary injunction that would prohibit the 1931 law from being enforced if Roe v. Wade is overturned before the Michigan lawsuit is settled.

The law has not been enforced for decades due to the US Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade. However, the recently leaked draft opinion from the US Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson would overturn Roe's precedent. This would allow states to once again enforce laws limiting or banning abortion.

Michigan legislators are requesting to defend the law because Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) are both taking the side of Planned Parenthood. Whitmer's administration has filed its own lawsuit with the same goal, and Nessel has stated that she would not enforce the abortion ban even if it did go into effect. This means that both sides of Planned Parenthood's lawsuit challenging the 1931 abortion ban are arguing for the same outcome.

“The Legislature’s motion to intervene is timely, coming just weeks after the court entered the (preliminary injunction) order,” the House and Senate said in a court filing. “There is no question that the Legislature has strong interests in ensuring that constitutional challenges to Michigan statutes present an actual controversy suitable for judicial resolution and, when necessary, in defending justiciable challenges. No existing party will adequately represent those interests here.”

Pro-life advocates are also concerned that the case is being considered by Michigan Judge Elizabeth Gleicher. Gleicher argued on behalf of Planned Parenthood in 1997 that the state constitution contained an implied right to abortion. The court ruled against Planned Parenthood at that time, but Planned Parenthood is attempting to make a similar argument now (albeit from a different angle).

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Pro-Life Legislators Ask HHS to Investigate Fetal Tissue Research at University of Pittsburgh

Pro-life legislators from the US House and Senate have called on HHS Inspector General Christi Grimm to investigate allegations that the University of Pittsburgh violated federal law with its federally funded fetal tissue research program.

On May 24, legislators sent a letter to Grimm expressing concern that the University of Pittsburgh illegally altered abortion procedures to obtain intact body parts. The letter reiterates concerns from pro-life advocates that the university may have even harvested organs from children who were born alive and later killed after attempted abortions.

“If the babies are born alive after surviving an abortion, are the university and its recipients and subrecipients of HHS funding reducing ‘warm ischemia time’ by keeping the babies alive until their organs or tissues have been harvested to provide blood flow to the organ or tissue for as long as possible?” the letter reads. “If infanticide by organ or tissue harvesting is occurring, it is a crime under Pennsylvania state law. It is also a violation of federal regulation, which requires, among other things, that ‘there will be no added risk to the neonate resulting from the research.'”

The legislators previously asked Attorney General Merrick Garland, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, and NIH Director Francis Collins to investigate back in September 2021, but nothing was done. Lawmakers criticized the administration for its lack of action in its letter last month: “Rather than conduct an independent evaluation of its own, NIH chose to accept and endorse a report that had been paid for by the institution it had been asked to investigate.”

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US Treasury Secretary Testifies that Abortion Boosts the Economy

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told a US Senate committee last month that legal abortion is justified. She argued that benefited the economy by allowing more women to enter the workforce.

Yellen testified during the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s report to the Senate Banking Committee. During that report, pro-abortion politicians took the opportunity to turn the discussion away from economic topics and toward the issue of abortion.

When Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) asked Yellen what impact the overturn of Roe v. Wade would have on the economy, she responded:

“I believe that eliminating the right of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy and would set women back decades. Roe v. Wade and access to reproductive health care, including abortion, helped lead to increased labor force participation. It enabled many women to finish school that increased their earning potential. It allowed women to plan and balance their families and careers, and research also shows it had a favorable impact on the well-being and earnings of children.”

She continued by arguing that young, low-income, black women will be unable to get the education necessary to participate in the workforce unless they have abortions. She further argued that the children of these mothers will grow up in poverty themselves (implying that they would be better off aborted).

Killing the children of poor mothers, black or otherwise, is not an ethical solution to the issue of poverty. It should go without saying that children's lives have value regardless of their parents' financial positions.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who was born to a single-parent black household, pushed back against Yellen's arguments both during the hearing and afterward in an op-ed for the Washington Post.

“There are voices today who would tell you that our lives were hopeless,” he wrote. “That a life like the one we had as a family was not a life worth living, and that the United States would be better off if people like us didn’t exist at all.”

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Michigan Gov. Orders State Agencies to Protect Abortionists from Investigations

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D)

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) issued an executive order on May 25 barring Michigan state agencies from cooperating with authorities from other states that are investigating abortion-related crimes.

Additionally, the order requires state agencies to "identify and assess potential opportunities to increase protections for reproductive health care."

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel released a statement applauding Whitmer's order.

“It is incumbent upon those of us who hold public office to exercise the full authority of our positions to extend support and protection for women in our state — and our country,” Nessel said. “That is why I have made clear that I will not use the resources of my office to enforce or defend Michigan’s 1931 statute criminalizing abortion. I refuse to put millions of Michigan women at risk by restricting their access to safe abortions.”

Michigan's 1931 ban was recently suspended by Judge Elizabeth Gleicher. She did not recuse herself, despite the fact that she argued against the same law on behalf of Planned Parenthood in 1997.

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ACLU Challenges Florida's 15-Week Abortion Ban

The ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit on June 1 to challenge Florida's new law banning abortions after the 15th week of development. Unless a judge issues an injunction, Florida's law will go into effect on July 1.

The ACLU lawsuit, filed on behalf of several abortion businesses throughout Florida, argues that Florida's "Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality Act" violates Florida's Constitution's privacy clause.

Florida's law includes exceptions for severe fetal anomalies, to save the life of the mother, or to prevent serious physical impairment to the mother's body.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law on April 14th. He said at the time, “This will represent the most significant protections for life that we have seen in a generation.”

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Planned Parenthood Sues to Block Oklahoma Abortion Law

photo credit: American Life League / Flickr

Shortly after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a new law banning most abortions, pro-abortion organizations announced that they are filing a lawsuit to block the law from going into effect.

Oklahoma HB 4327 prohibits most abortions from the moment of fertilization. Barring exceptions for rape, incest, and when the mother's life is in danger, abortion would be illegal in the state of Oklahoma. Much Texas's Heartbeat Act, the law empowers private citizens to sue abortionists who kill protected children.

“For anyone seeking abortion in Oklahoma and beyond: Planned Parenthood and our partners are fighting for you,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement when the bill was signed. “We will bring everything we have to make sure you can get the care you need, and challenge every ban enacted in Oklahoma.”

The challenge to Oklahoma HB 4327 will be added to the ongoing case against Oklahoma's "heartbeat act." That case is pending before the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

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Illinois Parental Notice Repeal Became Effective June 1

The repeal of Illinois's Parental Notice of Abortion Act, signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in December, became effective on June 1. Abortion businesses are no longer required to notify the parents of a minor seeking abortion.

“Illinois is now the only state in the Midwest that does not have Parental Notification in place, an open invitation to out-of-state minors to pursue abortions in Illinois,” Kevin Grillot, Executive Director of the March for Life Chicago, said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Parental Notice of Abortion Act was passed in 1995. It wasn't enforced until 2013 due to a lawsuit from pro-abortion groups. The law simply required abortion businesses to notify the parents or guardians of minors seeking an abortion. This notification had to happen at least 48 hours before the scheduled abortion. The law did not require the parents' permission. Additionally, minors could get approval from a judge to bypass the parental notification requirement.

The Parental Notice of Abortion Act gave parents the opportunity to speak with their daughters about the decision, and it provided an avenue by which sex traffickers could be caught. Without the notification requirement, sex traffickers who harm minors can use abortion businesses to hide their crimes.

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Rhode Island Supreme Court Upholds State Right to Abortion

On May 4, the Rhode Island Supreme Court upheld a 2019 state law declaring abortion to be a state right.

The court rejected a challenge by Servants of Christ for Life and two individual pro-life women who sued on behalf of their unborn children. They argued that state citizens should have been allowed to vote against the law in a referendum. Additionally, the mothers argued that the law erased the rights of their children.

The Court ultimately ruled that there was no right to a referendum on the law. It also ruled that unborn children had no legal standing because they are not "persons," and they further would not have standing because they were not harmed by the law (their pro-life parents chose life for them).

Attorney Diana Messere Magee, who represented the plaintiffs, said after the decision that her clients were considering whether to appeal to the US Supreme Court.

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Oklahoma Gov. Signs Law Banning Abortion at Fertilization

Oklahoma Gov Kevin Stitt (R)

On Wednesday, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law that bans abortion from the moment of fertilization. Abortion businesses in the state closed when the law took effect.

The new law, which took effect immediately, bans abortion at all stages of pregnancy, but it includes exceptions for rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is at risk. Additionally, the law states that its definition of abortion, “does not include the use, prescription, administration, procuring, or selling of Plan B, morning-after pills, or any other type of contraception or emergency contraception.” These options can sometimes cause abortion after fertilization but before implantation.

The Oklahoma law is enforced by private citizens through civil lawsuits, just like Texas's Heartbeat Act. Texas's law remains enforceable today, despite court challenges. The Texas Heartbeat Act, however, only bans abortion when the child's heartbeat becomes detectable (six weeks).

“I promised Oklahomans that as governor I would sign every piece of pro-life legislation that came across my desk and I am proud to keep that promise today,” said Stitt in a statement. He continued, “From the moment life begins at conception is when we have a responsibility as human beings to do everything we can to protect that baby’s life and the life of the mother. That is what I believe and that is what the majority of Oklahomans believe. If other states want to pass different laws, that is their right, but in Oklahoma we will always stand up for life.””

Click here to read more.