A bill to criminalize abortion in Oklahoma is now one step away from the governor s desk.
Debate boiled over Wednesday when a lawmaker said eliminating abortion is more important than the historical fight to eradicate slavery.
After talking about the 30-year struggle to end slavery in Great Britain, Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, referred to abortion, “This is a cause of even greater import because it deals with innocent and unborn life.”
“Just to clarify what you just said you re saying the lives of unborn children is more important than saving the lives of slaves?” Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-OKC, responded.
“None of us would like to be killed none of us would like to be a slave, but if I had my choice, I guess I would be a slave,” Olsen said. “At least the slave has his life.”
Oklahoma Republican Compares Banning Abortion to Fight Against Slavery
On 4/8/21 at 9:59 AM EDT
A state representative in Oklahoma has been criticised by some of his colleagues for comparing an attempt to ban abortion in the state, to the historic fight against slavery.
Representative Jim Olsen, a Republican, was speaking in favor of his bill, SB 612, which would make it a felony for doctors to perform abortions. During a committee hearing, he compared outlawing the procedure to efforts to abolish slavery in the Great Britain. This is a cause of even greater import because it deals with innocent unborn life, Olsen said. If we believe that these are really living human beings in the womb of a woman, then this is absolutely worth doing, even if it takes a long time.
A near-total abortion ban in Oklahoma is just two steps away from becoming law.On Wednesday, a House committee approved a bill that would ban the performance of abortion except in rare circumstances. It comes as Republican lawmakers across the country work to get abortion back in front of the U.S. Supreme Court.There’s been sharp debate during the entire Oklahoma legislative session over bills intended to limit or outlaw abortion. The debate escalated Wednesday as the Sooner State gets a step closer to a near-total abortion ban.The Public Health Committee was packed Wednesday while lawmakers voted 8-1 to advance a bill that would make it a felony to perform an abortion. The bill, however, would not punish the person who receives an abortion.Sarah Zarr, an anti-abortion activist with the group Students for Life, testified.“It’s time that Oklahoma fully recognizes the humanity and legally protects the lives of the pre-born,” Zarr said.Democratic state Rep. Denise Brewer qu
Dems blast Oklahoma lawmaker who compared slavery, abortion
by Sean Murphy, The Associated Press
Posted Apr 8, 2021 11:43 am EDT
Last Updated Apr 8, 2021 at 11:44 am EDT
OKLAHOMA CITY A white Republican lawmaker from southeast Oklahoma is facing criticism for comparing lawmakers’ efforts to end abortion to the fight against slavery.
Rep. Jim Olsen, of Roland, made the comments Wednesday during a meeting of the House Public Health Committee that was considering several anti-abortion bills.
“None of us would like to be a slave,” Olsen said when asked to clarify his comments, according to KOCO-TV. “If I had my choice, I guess I’d be a slave. At least a slave has his life. Once your life is gone, it’s gone.”
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