By: Abigail Weintraub
In September, Indiana will become the first state to ban abortion after the June overturning of Roe V. Wade. One of many trigger laws enacted by other states, the definite ban hinders many women’s ability to seek abortion, even for medical purposes.
The ban passed into law on August 5th. It will go into effect on September 15th, banning abortion in all cases except for rape, incest, lethal fetal abnormality, and possible death. As a result, many nearby hospitals are limiting abortion, forcing women to travel hundreds of miles away in order to find a hospital providing an adequate medical abortion.
Moments before the vote took place in the Indiana Statehouse, crowds of sign-holding protesters rallied through the building. Some of the signs read “You can only ban safe abortions” or “Abortion is health care”. Even so, the bill was passed 28-19, leading to a near-total ban.
The act was “another radical step by Republican legislators to take away women’s reproductive rights and freedom,” said Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary.
Others are disappointed for entirely different reasons. Anti-abortionists such as Rep. John Jacob wanted exceptions for abortion in cases of rape or incest removed. “The body inside of the mom’s body is not her body,” said Jacob. “Not her body, not her choice.” Jacob regards the abortion procedure as murder.
Since the overturning of Roe V. Wade, disagreement between pro-life and pro-choice is leading to conflict throughout the states. Instead of being resolved, the tension is spreading to states nearby; Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and others are on the road to near-complete abortion bans as well.
Straying from their neighbors’ political line, Kansas rejected a near complete abortion ban 3 days before Indiana passed one. As of now, this prevents them from ending up the same way as Indiana.
Lately, a rape victim as young as 10 years old had to seek an out of state medical abortion because her home state, Ohio, did not provide sufficient abortion services. After the event was criticized by President Biden, the act is drawing in outrage from across the globe.
Links:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/08/06/indiana-abortion-ban-roe-holcomb/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/24/abortion-state-laws-criminalization-roe/