NARAL Statement on Mississippi Lawmakers Passing Abortion Ban (H.B. 1510)

In response to news today that Mississippi lawmakers have passed H.B. 1510, NARAL Pro-Choice America Vice President of Communications and Strategic Research Adrienne Kimmell issued the following statement:

“Thanks to this anti-choice bill and its backers, women in Mississippi are now one dangerous step closer to losing their constitutional right to access abortion. Let’s be clear about the real outcomes for women if abortion ban bills like H.B. 1510 are signed into law: the number of abortions will not go down, and the number of deaths and injuries to women will rise. If the wellbeing and constitutional rights of women are of any importance to Governor Bryant, he will reject this measure promptly upon receiving it.”

Background:

H.B. 1510 is part of a growing national trend that is immensely concerning. It is similar to unconstitutional abortion bans introduced in the U.S. Congress last year, including a bill to ban abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant.

The Supreme Court made very clear in Roe v. Wade that bans before viability violate a woman’s right to privacy. It established a constitutional right to an abortion.

Similar unconstitutional abortion bans have been struck down by the courts. In North Dakota, the courts ruled that a similar abortion ban was unconstitutional, citing U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Courts also ruled an Arkansas law to be unconstitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear either case when defendants asked the court for additional review.