Oklahoma Governor Considers Bill That Would Criminalize Abortion

Opponents are strongly urging the governor to veto the bill, calling it “a new low.”

The Oklahoma Senate passed a bill Thursday that would make it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion. The legislation now goes to Gov. Mary Fallin for her consideration.

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The bill, which was authored by Republican state Senator Nathan Dahm, would also authorize the revocation of medical licenses for those physicians who perform abortions.

"Since I believe life begins at conception, it should be protected, and I believe it's a core function of state government to defend that life from the beginning of conception," Dahm told the Senate.

Under the bill, a doctor who performs an abortion could be sentenced to up to three years in prison.

The bill passed in the senate 33 to 12 with no debate and is now on its way to Fallin's office. She has five days to veto the bill before it becomes law.

Fallin's spokesman, Michael McNutt, told BuzzFeed News the governor will withhold comment until she and her staff have time to review the legislation.

Similar bills regulating abortion had been tossed out by Oklahoma lawmakers in the past.

The only physician in the Oklahoma Senate, Ervin Yen, a Republican, publicly called the bill "insane" and voted against it, saying that if it is passed it will no doubt be challenged in court. Yen did not immediately respond to BuzzFeed News request for comment.

"Oklahoma politicians have made it their mission year after year to restrict women's access vital health care services, yet this total ban on abortion is a new low," Amanda Allen, an attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights said in a statement.

The center, she added, is "closely watching this bill and we strongly urge Governor Fallin to reject this cruel and unconstitutional ban."

Bills like this one have been overturned by the Supreme Court in the past in the case of Roe v. Wade, in which justices ruled that it was a violation of the 14th Amendment to obstruct a woman's ability to get an abortion.

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