Recently a number of anti-abortion bills have been proposed by Republican lawmakers in some states, including Arizona and Mississippi. In the aftermath of Trump losing his reelection bid, the Republican party apparatus has resorted to appealing to their evangelical base that backs anti-abortion rights legislation as a way to solidify support of the party. Also, these state-level moves may provide additional opportunities to take abortion cases to the Supreme Court where an anti-abortion rights majority based on Trump’s appointees, including Amy Coney Barrett, will do what they can to repeal Roe v. Wade.
These efforts by Republican lawmakers are a desperate attempt to hold on to power, not a genuine concern for the fetus or the person giving birth. These bills don’t even have popular support in the U.S. since over 70% of Americans believe that Roe v. Wade should be upheld.
Banning abortions at an arbitrary number of weeks after conception and outlawing doctors performing these procedures does nothing but criminalize women’s choices about their own bodies. And a system that says that the Supreme Court, a small group of lifetime political appointees, can make such important decisions shows its contempt for women.
