Missouri Republicans pulled a bill on Wednesday that would allow homicide charges to be brought against women who get abortions less than a week after the proposal was introduced.
Abortion is already illegal in Missouri, except in the case of a medical emergency, but this bill would have opened doors for prosecutors and anti-abortion groups to target women who obtain abortions. The bill did allow for a duress defense for âlawfulâ medical procedures performed by a doctor and if a physician performs an abortion to save a patientâs life.
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Republicans in the state House and Senate both introduced bills to be heard this legislative session, proposing murder charges for women having an abortion in the state. While state GOP Rep. Bob Titus withdrew his chamberâs bill in a letter to House staff on Wednesday, the bill introduced by state Sen. Mike Moon is still pending.
Both bills, called the Abolition of Abortion in Missouri Act, would also allow for criminal charges for those who help someone obtain an abortion.
Shortly after the legislation was introduced, President Joe Bidenâs campaign criticized the bills, calling the legislation âthe latest in a series of cruel and draconian lawsâ introduced by the GOP.
âThis is just the latest in a series of cruel and draconian laws proposed by Republicans made possible in the year and a half since Trumpâs Supreme Court justices voted to overturn Roe,â Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Bidenâs campaign manager, said, according to local outlets.
âAnd make no mistake: Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans have no plans to stop here. If they have their way, every woman in this country could be facing punishment for seeking out the care they need under a national abortion ban. Thatâs what will be on the ballot next November.â
Vice President Kamala Harris shared Bidenâs outrage, calling the Republican-backed bills âoutrageous.â
âIf Republican extremists have their way, women in our country could be prosecuted for getting an abortion,â Harris wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. âThatâs whatâs on the ballot in 2024.â
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Titus told the Kansas City Star in a text message on Tuesday evening that the âmedia has mischaracterized my interest as hostile toward women.â
âNothing could be further from the truth,” Titus said. “My heart breaks for the killing of children.”
