Alabama State Sen. Bobby Singleton blasted the Alabama Senate for passing the nation’s most restrictive abortion ban in the United States on Tuesday evening that bars most abortions and failed to include his amendment to create exemptions for rape or incest.
“I think that we raped women last night,” Singleton, a Democrat, said during an interview with CNN’s Alisyn Camerota on Wednesday.
“We made women of Alabama the model of the new Roe v. Wade,” Singleton said. “I think this is just a horrible bill.”
The measure, which is headed to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey for approval, would put doctors behind bars for up to 99 years if they provide abortions. Doctors who attempt an abortion could face up to 10 years behind bars. The bill, which was passed in the Alabama Senate by a 25-6 margin, does permit women whose health is jeopardized by the pregnancy to obtain an abortion.
The bill will likely be challenged in federal court if it’s signed into law because it defies Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that made abortion legal nationwide. Ivey has not signaled whether she will sign the bill, although she is pro-life.
Camerota pressed Singleton on whether Republicans were primarily motivated to pass the bill so they could try to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“I would like to think that it’s just for the purpose of Roe v. Wade, but, you know, there are some members on that side of the aisle who really believe sincerely in this,” Singleton said.
Other states have recently passed legislation to restrict abortions. For example, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp approved legislation on Tuesday that would prohibit abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
[Opinion: The pro-life cause should and can care about rape victims, too]
