The Louisiana House Criminal Justice Committee voted today to approve legislation making abortion a crime of homicide regardless of the US Supreme Court's Roe decision. It would allow mothers, and abortion providers, to be charged with murder for terminating a pregnancy.
A key piece of the bill is that it names personhood as being at the moment of fertilization. Committee members voting in favor reportedly acknowledged that under current law the bill is unconstitutional in the current legal environment.
The legislation heads to the House floor, but if ultimately approved by the Legislature and Governor likely would require Roe vs. Wade to be overturned for it to take effect.
Opponents argued under the bill's wording some forms of birth control, in vitro fertilization, and miscarriages would also be illegal.
