Abortions in Missouri have resumed after a Jackson County judge temporarily blocked a regulation requiring abortion clinics to be licensed with the state. Despite the ruling, Republican Senate leaders, including President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, have pledged to “protect human life.”
“Last week’s ruling is exactly what we warned would happen,” she said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference. “Amendment 3 is opening the door to dangerous, unregulated abortion facilities with zero accountability. By striking down Missouri’s licensing requirements, the court has prioritized the abortion industry over women’s safety.”
Last November, about 51% of Missouri voters backed Amendment 3 to restore abortion rights.
Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance, said something needs to be done.
“Several of the bills that are defining these loose terms, these very broad terms that Amendment 3 put forth, those need to be passed,” he said. “Similar to what happened in Clean Missouri, allowing the people to have another bite at this apple and clarifying what truly is in our law, what’s not in our law, and how we can protect life, liberty and bodily autonomy, needs to pass as well.”
Before last Friday’s ruling, abortions were blocked by a requirement that all Missouri abortion clinics be licensed by the state. Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, said that the licensing rule is the reason why abortions in Missouri were inaccessible, despite Amendment 3 passing.
“The State of Missouri had created rules, promulgated rules that were so cumbersome to license a facility to perform an abortion that essentially it was not possible to do so,” she told Missourinet. “So, the judge took a look at this, a second look, and realized that that licensure piece was really not in the spirit of Amendment 3, and therefore should be also ruled unconstitutional.”
The first abortion following the judge’s ruling happened Saturday at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Kansas City.
“Today’s decision affirms what we’ve already long known — the state’s abortion facility licensing requirements were not about patient safety, but rather another politically motivated barrier to prevent patients seeking abortion from getting the care they need,” said Margot Riphagen, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. “Our health center staff are quickly readying to restart this critical care in the coming days, and we look forward to welcoming patients as we continue our work in the courts to fully implement the promises of Amendment 3.”
The group Missouri Stands with Women described the ruling as “sad and heartbreaking,” arguing that unlicensed and unregulated abortion clinics threatens women’s health and safety.
“Missouri voters were never told these outcomes would become reality as a result of Amendment 3. The more Missourians learn about blatant discriminatory abortions being legalized and the health and safety of women being put in danger they will demand Missouri fix this issue and not be used to push Planned Parenthood’s and Big Abortion’s dangerous and hateful agenda,” said Stephanie Bell, a spokeswoman for Missouri Stands with Women.
The court case is not over, but abortion clinics can resume the procedure as the case continues.
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