On Thursday, the Oklahoma legislature passed a bill that would make performing abortions a felony, revoke the rights of medical professionals participating in abortions, and make such procedures punishable by 1 to 3 years in the state penitentiary.
Though opponents of the bill are vocal about their belief that it is unconstitutional, the measure has headed to Governor Mary Fallin (R), who will have 5 days (not including Sunday) to decide whether or not she will sign the bill into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without her signature.
Fallin is withholding comment concerning her decision until she has reviewed the legislation.
The bill passed in the House of Representatives with a 59-to-9 vote on April 21 and on Thursday, the Senate also passed the bill in a 33-to-12 vote.
Other states have sought to ban the practice, however the Oklahoma bill is the first to offer such severe consequences for medical professionals who perform abortions. If the bill becomes law, the consequences will apply to all medical professionals, except in cases in which abortions are performed to save the life of the mother.
The Center for Reproductive Rights has already demanded that Fallin veto the bill. According to CNN, the group believes that the bill is in, “contravention of long standing federal and state constitutional principles as well as basic human rights.”
But for some in Oklahoma, that is the reason why they voted to pass the bill.
State Sen. Nathan Dahm (R) hopes for an eventual overturning of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling to legalize abortion.
“Since I believe life begins at conception, it should be protected,”Dahm told the Associated Press. “I believe it’s a core function of state government to defend that life from the beginning of conception.”
The Oklahoma bill will be considered unconstitutional until Roe v. Wade is overturned, an event that many conservative citizens have longed to see. It appears as though the Oklahoma bill is finally a step in the “right” direction.
