WPBN: Senators Dusty Deevers and Warren Hamilton, both of the Republican Party of Oklahoma, are advocating for increased enforcement of the state’s abortion laws.
Ever since the signing of House Bill 4327 into law by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt in May of 2022, abortion has been considered a criminal offense.
The two senators have issued a press statement in which they state that despite the ban, there are still over three thousand women who are obtaining abortions on an annual basis.
“Before Roe v. Wade was overturned in Dobbs, those numbers were between 4,000 and 5,000. Now those numbers and projections are over 7000, even up to 7,500,” Senator Deevers stated.
In their argument, Deevers and Hamilton contend that a ban does not prevent women in Oklahoma from obtaining abortions in states where the procedure is permitted or through other means, such as purchasing abortion pills for themselves online.
According to Reverend and Doctor Shannon Fleck, the discussion on the legalization of abortion will continue for many years to come.
“This statement from from the senator is very much indicative of a push that has nothing to do with health or wellness,” Rev. Fleck stated.
Despite the fact that the technique is already against the law in Oklahoma, Fleck is of the opinion that politicians are trying to conceal their intentions by requesting more stringent limitations.
“It’s all about control. Christian nationalists very much want to control how people go about their lives and specifically women,” Fleck stated.
If a bill were to be approved to strengthen the laws that are already in place, this is what the bill would look like.
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“I have filed Senate Bill 457, which is the Abolition of Abortion Act,” Deevers stated. “It would simply take the exception in the homicide code for self managed abortion out of the homicide code.”
If the bill is approved, Deevers states that a woman who is experiencing a pregnancy that needs to be terminated for reasons related to health and safety would not be punished, nor will the doctor who is performing the termination.
“There’s no intent with malice aforethought to murder a preborn child. So this bill, my bill would actually affirm her protection and it would simply protect the doctor as well,” Deevers stated.
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