Bills Classifying Abortion as Homicide Fizzle; Dems Move to Fortify Shield Laws

"Some Republican lawmakers have routinely proposed criminally prosecuting women for getting abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, despite bipartisan condemnation and criticism from national anti-abortion organizations. These bills never made it to the finish line, but they keep circulating in legislatures across the country."

"So-called "abortion abolitionists" who believe that abortion should be classified as homicide, and that fetuses, embryos and zygotes should have the same legal protections as people are often behind these measures, States Newsroom reported. This year, the Foundation to Abolish Abortion praised Republican lawmakers in Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee who introduced bills that would punish people who get abortions."

"In Illinois, Republican Sen. Neil Anderson filed a bill that would have banned abortion from the moment of fertilization and classified abortion as homicide in the Democratic-led state. Anderson's bill did not move past introduction, and he lost a leadership position in the chamber this month, Capitol News Illinois reported."

Following the Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade, some Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to criminally prosecute women who obtain abortions. These bills, often championed by abortion abolitionists who seek to classify abortion as homicide and grant legal protections to fetuses from fertilization, have circulated across state legislatures but have not successfully passed. The Foundation to Abolish Abortion has praised lawmakers in Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee for introducing such measures. Notable examples include Illinois Senator Neil Anderson's bill banning abortion from fertilization, which failed to advance and contributed to his loss of a leadership position, and Tennessee Senator Mark Pody's amended bill that would criminalize women seeking abortions, which was ultimately withdrawn. These proposals face bipartisan condemnation and criticism from national anti-abortion organizations.

Read at Truthout