Oklahoma’s abortion debate has taken a sharp turn with Sens. Dusty Deevers and Warren Hamilton challenging the notion that abortions in the state are nonexistent. They criticized House Speaker Kyle Hilbert’s claim of “zero” reported abortions, highlighting the estimated 3,274 self-managed abortions annually, along with the thousands of Oklahomans traveling out of state for the procedure.
Deevers emphasized that “zero ‘reported’ abortions is not the same thing as zero abortions,” referencing data that contradicts claims of absence. Self-managed abortions, performed outside conventional medical settings, remain a legal grey area due to Oklahoma’s pro-life laws, which prevent the prosecution of mothers. However, Attorney General Gentner Drummond has refrained from enforcing penalties against these women based on a 2023 opinion that promises not to criminalize them.
Hamilton, citing data from the Foundation to Abolish Abortion, underscored the gravity of the situation, calling the annual 3,274 self-managed abortions “little human beings are murdered on our watch.” Both Senators have pledged to address these issues in the current legislative session, pushing for laws that close legal loopholes and provide “equal protection” for the unborn, particularly in response to abortion pill ads and deliveries in the state.
Despite the ongoing legal complexities, Deevers and Hamilton’s stance signals an intensifying effort to tighten abortion laws in Oklahoma, aiming for legislation that fully aligns with their pro-life views. The debate over abortion in the state remains unresolved, with significant political and legal actions anticipated in the near future.