5125122, 5.06 PM EXPLAINED: What s Happening With Abortion in US' Oklahoma City? Ta SOME» MEME» ELAS» BANA. aT MORE WACOM UP ao TE nme EXPLAINED: What is Happening With Abortion in US’ Oklahoma City? The frat ant-avertion il signed int aw thisyear by ‘oklahoma Governor Kevin ould make performing anaborion a felony crm, punishable by upto 10 Sy = sont WS ttt eet Suvew___ 1 ‘cuoueoh ¢ ea tet ase | Klahoma’s Republican-Ied state Legislature passed several anti-abortion restrictions in recent weeks, part of a movement in conservative states to curtail women’s reproductive rights. Anti-abortion lawmakers are hopeful the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court, which already indicated in arguments it would uphold Mississippi's ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, might even overturn the nationwide right that has existed for nearly 50 years, A decision isn’t expected before june. ‘Meanwhile, « new Texas law that bans most abortions and was designed to evade court challenges has been in effect nearly eight months, resulting in a major spike in abortions in Oklahoma as women in Texas head to surrounding states to receive services. Here's a look at what's happening in Oklahoma and what experts say is expected in the coming months: ‘ARE OKLAHOMA'S ABORTION RESTRICTIONS EXPECTED TO STAND? Donning Geen scares, excan Wamen dance Outside Cathecrat Demanding Leal Safe abortions hitps:www-news1 8, cominewslexplainers/explained-whalis-happening-wilh-aborioninsus-klahoma-cly-5088595.htnl 75125122, 5.06 PM EXPLAINED: What is Happening With Abortion in US! Oklahoma City? ‘The first anti-abortion bill signed into law this year by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt would make performing {an abortion a felony crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. That bill is scheduled to take effect in ‘August, but it’s likely to be struck down by the courts because the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, “remains the law of the land and a state cannot make a felony something that SCOTUS says isa constitutional right,’ said Cat! Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. A lawsuit seeking to halt that measure was filed on Thursday in district court, adding the challenge to an existing case in which five anti-abortion measures approved by lawmakers last year have been blocked from. taking effect. PHOTOGALLERY. Abortion providers in Oklahoma say they are more concerned with two anti-abortion bills in the state that, like the Texas lav, allow private citizens to sue doctors or anyone who helps @ woman obtain an abortion for up to '$10,000, Because that law empowers private parties, not the state, to enforce the ban, so far the U.S. Supreme ‘Court has not determined that itis unconstitutional. ‘One Texas-style bill that prohibits abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy already is awaiting the governors signature; another that bans essentially all abortions is still working through the Legislature. “We are more concerned at this point about these Texas-style bans because they have, at least recently, been able to continue and remain in effect,’ said Emily Wales, interim president and CEO at Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates two abortion clinics in OXlahoma. PROMOTED CONTENT ‘Altair Waranty Analytics ‘est fda Sant Tadee [Even though Oklahoma's governor has yet to sign the Texas-style ban, abortion rights activists are optimistic it could be halted by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which has blocked dozens of proposed anti-abortion laws in PROMOTED CONTENT recent years. HOW MANY ABORTIONS ARE PERFORMED IN OKLAHOMA? “The number of abortions performed each year in Oklahoma, which now has four abortion clinics, has declined steadily over the last two decades, from more than 6,200 in 2002 to 3,737 in 2020, the fewest in more than 20 years, according to data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In 2020, before the Texas law was passed, about 9% of the abortions performed in Oklahoma were women from Texas. ‘Those numbers are expected to spike dramatically because ofthe influx of Texas residents seeking abortions in Apt for ankof ard Di Oklahoma. Before the Texas ban took effect on Sep. 1, about 40 women from Texas had abortions performed in MER RD! AE at 8 690% Oklahoma each month, the data shows. That number jumped to 222 Texas women in September and 243 in poms — WOME wPL2022 POLITICS INDIA MOVIES CRICKET WORLD BUSINESS. EDUCATION-CAREER BUZZ OPINION PHOTOS TRACKER, “We're serving as many Texans as Oklahomans right now, in some cases more Texans than Oklahomans,” Wales Born Between 1965-1990? Get said, easmany en ‘ @ fs 013/monthr WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND IN OKLAHOMA? hitpsswww news! 8, cominewslexpliners/explained-whalis-nappening-with-aborionin-us-klahoma-cily-5088595.htn! 2165125122, 5.06 PM EXPLAINED: What is Happening With Abortion in US! Oklahoma City? Even though abortions are still legal in Oklahoma, Wales said many patients are uncertain because they've seen news stories about efforts to outlaw the practice. She said operators ofthe two clinics ae slowing down scheduling appointments over concerns that there could be delays because of the new laws. “At this point we are being realy cautious about opening new schedules, because we don’t want patients to ‘make travel arrangements, schedule time off work, get to Oklahoma and then find out the governor signed a bil ‘and you ean no longer access eate here,” she said, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? et ogi smart vital Mant It's not clear how soon the courts in Oklahoma might act, although judges in the past have issued temporary injunctions within weeks of legal challenges being file. ‘Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers in Oklahoma who have sought to restrictor outlaw abortion for decades are ‘buoyed by the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court may allow states to regulate or ban the practice. “Combined with other Oklahoma statutes now on the books, itis hoped the practice of abortion will cease in cour state forall time,’ said Rep. Todd Russ, a Republican from Cordell who wrote Oklahoma's Texas-style bil “We will continue our work until that is accomplished.” ‘Oklahoma is one of 22 states that have laws in place that would immediately ban abortions if the high court were to overturn or fundamentally weaken its Roe v. Wade decision, according to the Guttmacher Institute in New York, a think tank that supports abortion rights. Read all the Latest News , Breaking News and IPL 2022 Live Updates here. PROMOTED CONTENT raceme [Photos] Sean Murreys Living in Kakinada? Dorit Registered [swnew] Upgrade to Partner Look Familiar To Buy Hearing Aids Before Medical Devices stainless stee! You Reading This +3 months. storage tank. \ . A) ; MG 4 Claim, Buy & [Pics] Royal Family [Pics] These Are The Kakinada: Unsold SUVs Renew Your Confirms Unfortunate Wives Of The World's Are Almost Being Given Motor News Richest ‘Men Away (See Prices) ‘pessanae hitpsswww-news1 8, cominewslexpliners/explained-whalis-nappening-with-aborionin-us-klahoma-cily-5088595.htn! a6