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Oklahoma Gov. Vetoes Bill to Make Abortion a Felony

  • Veronica Neffinger

    Veronica Neffinger wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the…

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  • Updated May 23, 2016

The Republican gov. of Oklahoma has vetoed a bill that aims to make abortion a felony punishable by time in prison.

Despite being staunchly pro-life, Gov. Mary Fallin chose to veto the bill because she said it was too vague and would not hold up to being challenged in court.

“The bill is so ambiguous and so vague that doctors cannot be certain what medical circumstances would be considered ‘necessary to preserve the life of the mother,’” Fallin, a Republican, said in a statement.

“The absence of any definition, analysis or medical standard renders this exception vague, indefinite and vulnerable to subjective interpretation and application,” she continued.

FoxNews.com reports that Fallin has, however signed 18 other bills supporting pro-life causes.

The bill would punish doctors who perform abortions with three years in prison and loss of their medical licenses. The bill also does not make exceptions for rape or incest, but does make an exception if the life of the mother is in danger.

The bill’s author, Republican Sen. Nathan Dahm, stated, “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 hopes the bill might be the first step in overturning the seminal abortion case Roe vs. Wade

Other Republicans agreed with Fallin that the bill was not a measure worth supporting. Republican Sen. Ervin Yen, who is also a doctor, voted against the bill and called it “insane.”

Oklahoma’s legislators can attempt to override the gov.’s veto, but must get a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate for the bill to pass.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: May 23, 2016