Oklahoma Law to Ban Sex-Selection Abortions, Help Women Faces Lawsuit

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Sep 30, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Oklahoma Law to Ban Sex-Selection Abortions, Help Women Faces Lawsuit

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 30
, 2009

Oklahoma City, OK (LifeNews.com) — A new Oklahoma law that would have gone into effect in November to ban sex-selection abortions and help women by making sure abortion centers follow certain health and safety requirements may be delayed. That is because it faces a new lawsuit by abortion advocates who oppose it.

Yesterday, the Center for Reproductive Rights, a New York-based pro-abortion law firm, filed suit against the law that the state legislature approved by a wide bipartisan majority and signed by Governor Brad Henry in May.

"It is absurd, bordering on incredible, that an organization that says it cares about ‘women’s rights’ would challenge a law that seeks to help women and their children," National Right to Life state legislative director Mary Spaulding Balch told LifeNews.com.

"It is unfortunate, even in this enlightened age of women, that many cultures here and abroad favor males over females," she said. "With this sex-selection ban, the state of Oklahoma has declared that female children are valued as highly as male children."

"Abortion is the most under-regulated, under-investigated, and under-researched procedure done on American women today, yet it is the most common and most potentially dangerous to their health and well-being," Balch added. "If a state can get a handle on the reasons women have abortions, it can lead to better programs that will make it easier for women to have their children rather than resort to abortion."

The lawsuit alleges that House Bill 1595 by Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, and Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, covers more than one subject and, therefore, violates the state constitution.

Charlie Price, a spokesman for Attorney General Drew Edmondson, told the Tulsa World Newspaper, "We will be reviewing the lawsuit over the coming days and will respond to the claims appropriately."

Former state Rep. Wanda Jo Stapleton, D-Oklahoma City, and Shawnee resident Lora Joyce Davis filed the lawsuit with the help of the pro-abortion law firm.

CRR is asking a court to prevent the law from taking effect on November 1 and to issue a temporary injunction while the case proceeds.

Another Oklahoma law is also in court — SB 1878 — which allows women a chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn child before having an abortion.

Last month, Oklahoma County District Judge Vicki Robertson ruled the law violated the Oklahoma Constitution because it covered more than one subject and the state has appealed that ruling.

The case is Davis v. W.A. Drew Edmondson.

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