Proposed bill seeks to ban abortion in Ohio
Source: The Post Online (Athens University independent
student-run daily newspaper)
Proposed bill seeks to ban abortion in Ohio
by Chris Yonker
Staff Writer
christopher.a.yonker@ohiou.edu
A bill introduced by Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Mount Lookout, would ban all abortions in Ohio and prohibit women from traveling to other states in order to receive abortions.
The bill would not target those receiving the abortions, rather the doctors and those who may facilitate crossing into another state to receive an abortion, said Kara Joseph, a legislative aide. Doctors and facilitators both, she said, would be charged with a fifth degree felony if found guilty.
The bill, Joseph said, does not allow abortion except in cases where the mother is undergoing medical treatment and the doctors have to make a choice between the mother and child's life.
The bill's ultimate goal, however, is the repeal of the Roe v. Wade decision made by the Supreme Court in 1973, Joseph said. Several similar bills have been introduced in states nationwide to bring one of them before the Supreme Court.
"Which bill will get there is anyone's guess," Joseph said.
The bill is coming under criticism by some groups for being too extreme of a bill, not allowing abortions in cases of pregnancy by rape or incest, Joseph said.
With the addition of Justice Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, it is hard to tell whether it is possible for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, Joseph said. There were more liberal judges on the court when Roe v. Wade was decided, she said, and even they were not sure they were correct in their decision. Since then, the case has come before the court twice, but its decision has remained the same.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio opposes this bill, and Executive Director Chris Link said there are rumors that the bill is dying. The bill, Link said, has not gained support among Brinkman's constituents and probably will die off soon.
Any attempt to pass an already unconstitutional law, Link said, is often difficult to gain support for.
"Any first-year law student can see this law is unconstitutional," Link said.
Christian Coalition of Ohio, however, supports the bill and took part in a press conference last month to muster up support for the bill, Executive Director Chris Long said.
The press conference, which was held in the same week as the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, attempted to bring this bill back to the attention of the Ohio General Assembly. Without the attention, Long said, the bill would die without being voted upon.
The focus of the bill, he said, was to return the issue of abortion legality back to the states, where it rested before Roe v. Wade.
"We're not of the opinion that (the bill) would stop abortion," Long said, "but we do want to bring the issue back to the states."
Proposed bill seeks to ban abortion in Ohio
by Chris Yonker
Staff Writer
christopher.a.yonker@ohiou.edu
A bill introduced by Rep. Tom Brinkman, R-Mount Lookout, would ban all abortions in Ohio and prohibit women from traveling to other states in order to receive abortions.
The bill would not target those receiving the abortions, rather the doctors and those who may facilitate crossing into another state to receive an abortion, said Kara Joseph, a legislative aide. Doctors and facilitators both, she said, would be charged with a fifth degree felony if found guilty.
The bill, Joseph said, does not allow abortion except in cases where the mother is undergoing medical treatment and the doctors have to make a choice between the mother and child's life.
The bill's ultimate goal, however, is the repeal of the Roe v. Wade decision made by the Supreme Court in 1973, Joseph said. Several similar bills have been introduced in states nationwide to bring one of them before the Supreme Court.
"Which bill will get there is anyone's guess," Joseph said.
The bill is coming under criticism by some groups for being too extreme of a bill, not allowing abortions in cases of pregnancy by rape or incest, Joseph said.
With the addition of Justice Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court, it is hard to tell whether it is possible for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, Joseph said. There were more liberal judges on the court when Roe v. Wade was decided, she said, and even they were not sure they were correct in their decision. Since then, the case has come before the court twice, but its decision has remained the same.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio opposes this bill, and Executive Director Chris Link said there are rumors that the bill is dying. The bill, Link said, has not gained support among Brinkman's constituents and probably will die off soon.
Any attempt to pass an already unconstitutional law, Link said, is often difficult to gain support for.
"Any first-year law student can see this law is unconstitutional," Link said.
Christian Coalition of Ohio, however, supports the bill and took part in a press conference last month to muster up support for the bill, Executive Director Chris Long said.
The press conference, which was held in the same week as the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, attempted to bring this bill back to the attention of the Ohio General Assembly. Without the attention, Long said, the bill would die without being voted upon.
The focus of the bill, he said, was to return the issue of abortion legality back to the states, where it rested before Roe v. Wade.
"We're not of the opinion that (the bill) would stop abortion," Long said, "but we do want to bring the issue back to the states."
( categories: News )