Oklahoma Legislature Passes Texas-Style Abortion Ban Protecting Babies From Conception

The Oklahoma legislature has passed a ban on abortions, protecting babies starting at conception. The measure is a Texas-style law that includes a private right of action as enforcement — but instead of protecting babies at six week when their heartbeat can be detected, it starts protecting unborn children at conception when their life begins.

The Texas abortion ban is a unique law that has been on the books for over 260 days and saved as many as 17,000 babies from abortions.

The House voted 78-19 to pass the bill previously and today the chamber gave final approval to the measure after minor changes from the Senate. After the 73-16 vote it will not head to Governor Kevin Stitt’s desk and the pro-life governor will sign it into law.

This is the second Texas-style law the legislature approved this session as it already had signed off on one that starts the abortion ban at 6 weeks when the baby’s heart can be detected. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed that pro-life law. Oklahoma is passing a number of state laws banning abortions so it can attempt to ban abortions now with a Texas-style law and also have abortion bans on the books ready to go when Roe is overturned as is expected next month.

“Is our goal to defend the right to life or isn’t it?” Collinsville Republican Rep. Wendi Stearman, who sponsored the bill, asked her colleagues.

“This is an opportunity to save more Oklahomans. I hope that we see a good decision out of the U.S. Supreme Court, but we can’t wait around for that,” Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat told the committee, Fox 23 News reports. “We need to save unborn life.”… (Excerpt from LIFENEWS)