Anti-Abortion Groups Warn Lawmakers Against Criminalizing Having An Abortion

More than 70 anti-abortion rights groups wrote an open letter to state lawmakers Thursday, urging them to reject abortion bans that would make the procedure a felony.

The letter was sent to all state legislators in the United States of America and directed them to reject any measure that would criminalize abortion.

The organizations argued that women who get an abortion should get counseling and support after the procedure.

Many states intend to criminalize abortion providers if the Supreme Court overturns the law.

The National Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony List, March for Life Action, and the National Association of Pro-Life Nurses signed the list.

The letter was sent the same day as a Louisiana bill that would have made getting an abortion a homicide charge failed in the state House, after Republican lawmakers amended the bill to only punish abortion providers.

The amendment passed in a 65-26 vote and the bill sponsor decided to stop the legislation.

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There are 12. The number of states that have introduced bills similar to Louisiana's that would criminalize abortion has increased, according to the Washington Post. The Louisiana bill is the only one that has made it out of committee so far.

The letter states that they understand the desire to punish the abortion providers who act callously and without regard to the dignity of human life.

Chief Critic

Some Republicans like McCormick are standing behind abortion bans that punish the person who gets it. During the debate on the Louisiana bill Thursday, McCormick said that abortion is murder and that Republicans were trying to explain it away.

Key Background

The Supreme Court is expected to overturn the 1973 ruling in the coming weeks. More than a dozen states are poised to make performing an abortion a felony, and abortion rights advocates are worried that stronger bans that would criminalize getting the procedure, like the Louisiana bill, would be the next step for anti-abortion advocates and lawmakers.

Surprising Fact

The objection to harsh bans that would punish those having the procedure comes as many Republicans have been hesitant to celebrate the likely Supreme Court ruling, even as they have long opposed abortion rights. One GOP strategist told the Post that the question of how the Supreme Court will rule is something that keeps them up at night.

The state of La. Republicans advance abortion bill.

Louisiana Republicans plan to block a bill that would classify abortion as murder.

The bill was sponsored by an ally of the anti-abortion forces. Here is why. The New Orleans Advocate.

If the abortion law is changed, it will become a felony in these states.