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| Oklahoma lawmakers pass bill to outlaw abortion | Oklahoma lawmakers pass bill to outlaw abortion |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lawmakers in the US state of Oklahoma have passed a bill that would make the act of performing an abortion a crime. | Lawmakers in the US state of Oklahoma have passed a bill that would make the act of performing an abortion a crime. |
| Under the bill, a doctor who performs an abortion could be sentenced to up to three years in prison and be barred from practising medicine in the state. | |
| Abortion is legal in the United States and abortion-rights activists say the bill is unconstitutional. | Abortion is legal in the United States and abortion-rights activists say the bill is unconstitutional. |
| The legislation now heads to Governor Mary Fallin who has previously backed curbs on abortion. | The legislation now heads to Governor Mary Fallin who has previously backed curbs on abortion. |
| Two abortion clinics remain in Oklahoma after the state recently enacted a number of new regulations on the facilities. | Two abortion clinics remain in Oklahoma after the state recently enacted a number of new regulations on the facilities. |
| Ms Fallin, a rising star in conservative circles, has been mentioned as a potential running mate for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. | Ms Fallin, a rising star in conservative circles, has been mentioned as a potential running mate for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. |
| Anti-abortion groups said they hoped to use the bill to trigger a legal case that would overturn Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court verdict that made abortion legal in 1973. | Anti-abortion groups said they hoped to use the bill to trigger a legal case that would overturn Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court verdict that made abortion legal in 1973. |
| Legislation similar to that in Oklahoma was enacted in Utah and Louisiana in 1991 but the laws were later ruled unconstitutional. | Legislation similar to that in Oklahoma was enacted in Utah and Louisiana in 1991 but the laws were later ruled unconstitutional. |
| In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban. | In recent years, conservatives have sought to tighten restrictions on abortion clinics and doctors rather than seek an outright ban. |
| Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women's access to abortion. | Abortion rights advocates say these measures are meant to restrict women's access to abortion. |
| The new laws are particularly widespread in conservative southern states. | The new laws are particularly widespread in conservative southern states. |
| This week, South Carolina's legislators passed a bill that would bar abortions after the 19 weeks of pregnancy. | This week, South Carolina's legislators passed a bill that would bar abortions after the 19 weeks of pregnancy. |