(CNS News)Â — The Republican governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt, signed three pro-life bills into law on Monday, providing more protection for unborn children and their mothers.
“I’m keeping my promise to sign all pro-life legislation,” tweeted Gov. Stitt on Monday. “We now have three more laws protecting the lives of the unborn! HB 2441, HB 1904, and HB 1102.”
HB 2441Â says that no person shall perform an abortion on an unborn child if the child’s heartbeat is detectable. A baby’s heartbeat can be detected usually around six weeks into a pregnancy.
(3/4) I'm keeping my promise to sign all pro-life legislation. We now have three more laws protecting the lives of the unborn! HB 2441, HB 1904, and HB 1102. pic.twitter.com/PVdRBELNZg
— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) April 26, 2021
HB 2441 allows an exception: if the mother has a condition “that so complicates her medical condition that it necessitates the abortion of her pregnancy to avert her death or to avert serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including psychological or emotional conditions.”
Any person who violates this new law “shall be guilty of homicide.”
HB 1904Â states that any person performing an abortion must be “board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology.” The person also must be a doctor licensed to practice medicine in Oklahoma.
Violation of HB 1904 is a felony and punishable by imprisonment for one to three years.
HB 1102Â says that perfomring an abortion in Oklahoma shall be classified as “unprofessional conduct,” unless the procedure is done to save the life of the mother.
“Performance of an abortion … except for an abortion necessary to prevent the death of the mother or to prevent substantial or irreversible physical impairment of the mother” shall be deemed “unprofessional conduct” under Oklahoma law.
In addition, the “performance of an abortion on the basis of the mental or emotional health of the mother shall be a violation” of this new law.
Most. Rev. Paul Coakley, the Archbishop of Oklahoma City, issued a statement that said, “Every life is precious and has infinite value in the eyes of God who creates each of us out of love. We are fortunate in Oklahoma to have political leaders who understand and seek to protect our most vulnerable from abortion, which claims the lives of unborn children and too often endangers their mothers as well.”
“I urge prayers for a renewed respect for the dignity of every human life and for a rejection of the throw away mentality that treats human beings as disposable based merely on their usefulness, health, age or economic status,” said the archbishop. “We must offer compassion and mercy to those in need.â
