Ohio anti-abortion activists are using the nomination of conservative Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court to again reintroduce a bill that would ban all abortions if the Roe v. Wade ruling is overturned.
Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
“This is what we’ve been waiting for. This is our moment and it’s our time.”
Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis says he expects Barrett to be confirmed. And with Republicans opposed to abortion leading the House, Senate and in the governor’s office, he says Senate President Larry Obhof will propose a bill to kill abortion in Ohio if Roe is overturned.
“What we’re doing with our trigger bill is saying, we’re banning abortion from the moment of conception except to save the life of the mother.”
Gonidakis says he guarantees there are enough votes in the legislature to pass the bill this year, named the Human Life Protection Act. The ban on abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected passed last year 56-40 in the House and 18-13 in the Senate and was signed by Governor Mike DeWine, but it’s on hold because of legal action.
The bill would not penalize women, but a doctor who performs abortion could face a fourth degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in prison.
