OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill Tuesday morning that bans almost all abortions in the state.
Under Senate Bill 612, performing an abortion in Oklahoma becomes a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison with no exceptions for rape or incest. There is makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother.
It will take effect 90 days after the state legislature adjourns next month,
Stitt has maintained during his time as governor that he would sign any anti-abortion laws that make it to his desk.
“We want to outlaw abortion in the state of Oklahoma,” Stitt said during a signing ceremony for the bill. “I promised Oklahomans that I would sign every pro-life bill that hits my desk, and that’s what we’re doing here today.”
Advocates who oppose the bill released statements following its signing condemning the direction Oklahoma is taking in its abortion policies.
“Oklahoma legislators are trying to ban abortion from all sides and merely seeing which of these dangerous, shameful bills they can get their governor to sign,” Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Texas and Oklahoma and a board member at Physicians for Reproductive Health, said in a statement.
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