Oklahoma passed a bill on Tuesday that would make performing an abortion a felony, with a maximum fine of $100,000 and/or up to 10 years in prison—making it the harshest abortion ban the nation has ever seen.
The practice of abortion in Oklahoma
Oklahoma was one of the states in the US to have limited restrictions on abortion. When Texas banned abortion after six weeks of pregnancy last September, women turned to Oklahoma for a safe and legal abortion.
The demand for abortion in the state increased tremendously to an 800% increase in patients. The previous legal limit for abortion in Oklahoma was 21.6 weeks.
The SB 612 bill or Oklahoma Heartbeat Act
The Oklahoma bill will ban all abortions, with no exemption for pregnancies that occurred as a result of rape or incest. Abortion can only be carried out in case of a dire medical emergency where the mother’s life is at risk.
Unless a medical emergency, anyone who performs an abortion will receive a fine of $100,000 and/or ten years in prison.
Several welfare entities have voiced their objection to the bill, saying this would dramatically affect the right and freedom of abortions.
Abortion ban in other states
Following Texas’ abortion bill, states like Tennessee, Idaho, and Missouri imposed bills with similar restrictions. The state of Arkansas stunned the public by banning abortion at any stage of pregnancy, except for medical emergencies.
