Ohio lawmakers to introduce bill banning abortion, criminalizing the procedure; would overturn constitutional amendment approved by Ohio voters

essentialsaltes · Jun 19, 2025

The "Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act" would overturn the amendment to the Ohio constitution, voted on in 2023, that establishes "an individual right to one's own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion" before viability.

"[It] is a very, very simple and beautiful piece of legislation in that all it does is identify all human beings as persons deserving equal protection of the law, both born humans and pre-born humans," anti-abortion advocate Austin Beigel, with End Abortion Ohio, told ABC News.

When Beigel was asked if he was concerned that the bill may go against the will of the voters, he said he was not because "the will of the voters was evil."

RileyG · Jun 19, 2025

essentialsaltes said:
The "Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act" would overturn the amendment to the Ohio constitution, voted on in 2023, that establishes "an individual right to one's own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion" before viability.

"[It] is a very, very simple and beautiful piece of legislation in that all it does is identify all human beings as persons deserving equal protection of the law, both born humans and pre-born humans," anti-abortion advocate Austin Beigel, with End Abortion Ohio, told ABC News.

When Beigel was asked if he was concerned that the bill may go against the will of the voters, he said he was not because "the will of the voters was evil."

Good.

NxNW · Jun 19, 2025

essentialsaltes said:
When Beigel was asked if he was concerned that the bill may go against the will of the voters, he said he was not because "the will of the voters was evil."

Why do Republicans seem to hate democracy?

Yttrium · Jun 19, 2025

Although I would love to see this bill pass somewhere just to see how it mangles local laws, it will fail hard in Ohio.

Pommer · Jun 20, 2025

essentialsaltes said:
The "Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act" would overturn the amendment to the Ohio constitution, voted on in 2023, that establishes "an individual right to one's own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion" before viability.

"[It] is a very, very simple and beautiful piece of legislation in that all it does is identify all human beings as persons deserving equal protection of the law, both born humans and pre-born humans," anti-abortion advocate Austin Beigel, with End Abortion Ohio, told ABC News.

When Beigel was asked if he was concerned that the bill may go against the will of the voters, he said he was not because "the will of the voters was evil."

How ~~does~~ can an Act of a Legislature nix a provision in a state’s Constitution?

essentialsaltes · Jun 20, 2025

Pommer said:
How ~~does~~ can an Act of a Legislature nix a provision in a state’s Constitution?

I was curious, too, but the article didn't explain, and I didn't look. I know in California, if the legislature wants to alter the Constitution, then the people get to vote on it afterwards.

BCP1928 · Jun 20, 2025

RileyG said:
Good.

In a way it is good, because it puts all the cards on the table. Americans have to obey laws but they get to decide what is good or evil themselves. The determination of what is legal and what is not legal is a matter for legislatures and the courts. The determination of good and evil is a religious matter, beyond the powers of any secular legislature.

RileyG · Jun 20, 2025

BCP1928 said:
In a way it is good, because it puts all the cards on the table. Americans have to obey laws but they get to decide what is good or evil themselves. The determination of what is legal and what is not legal is a matter for legislatures and the courts. The determination of good and evil is a religious matter, beyond the powers of any secular legislature.

No. I personally disagree. It’s not a religious matter. It’s natural law, but that is off topic, and cannot be discussed.

BCP1928 · Jun 20, 2025

RileyG said:
No. I personally disagree. It’s not a religious matter. It’s natural law, but that is off topic, and cannot be discussed.

Natural law is a religious concept. And no, we can't discuss it, I merely bring it up to point out that for a legislator to declare a constitutional amendment "evil" is an attempt to wage religious war against a secular state. It's foolishness.

RileyG · Jun 20, 2025

BCP1928 said:
Natural law is a religious concept. And no, we can't discuss it, I merely bring it up to point out that for a legislator to declare a constitutional amendment "evil" is an attempt to wage religious war against a secular state. It's foolishness.

Well, I would say it’s more philosophical, but yes. But no, this isn’t a religious war nor foolishness. It’s about protecting the most innocent and vulnerable, the unborn.

There are plenty of secular people and democratic people who are also opposed to abortion.

Why wage war against unborn babies? Makes my heart hurt.

The only point being, it can go both ways.

Desk trauma · Jun 20, 2025

Can’t let the plebs think they have a say in the laws.

hedrick · Jun 20, 2025

Pommer said:
How ~~does~~ can an Act of a Legislature nix a provision in a state’s Constitution?

If the courts aren't prepared to enforce the constitution.

The bill claims to implement the US constitution's equal protection clause, which would override a state's constitution.

BCP1928 · Jun 20, 2025

RileyG said:
Well, I would say it’s more philosophical, but yes. But no, this isn’t a religious war nor foolishness. It’s about protecting the most innocent and vulnerable, the unborn.

There are plenty of secular people and democratic people who are also opposed to abortion.

Why wage war against unborn babies? Makes my heart hurt.

The only point being, it can go both ways.

Because many people think they are not "babies" and the arguments they hear against abortion are all religious. It is Beigel who is making the religious argument.

BCP1928 · Jun 20, 2025

hedrick said:
If the courts aren't prepared to enforce the constitution.

The bill claims to implement the US constitution's equal protection clause, which would override a state's constitution.

He doesn't realize what a mess he will have created if it passes.

hedrick · Jun 20, 2025

BCP1928 said:
He doesn't realize what a mess he will have created if it passes.

Why do you think that? So far messes haven't deterred similar laws.

durangodawood · Jun 20, 2025

Desk trauma said:
Can’t let the plebs think they have a say in the laws.

Well the same "conservatives" who love to say "we're not a democracy, we're a republic" typically love this most democratic tool of all: direct democracy via voter ballot initiative. Until the results dont go their way.

BCP1928 · Jun 20, 2025

hedrick said:
Why do you think that? So far messes haven't deterred similar laws.

If you declare a fertilized ovum a human person then a "birth" must be legally registered every time one is produced. Should it fail to attach itself to the wall of the uterus and die, a coroner's inquest must be held. Usually, if the death occurs under medical supervision a death certificate must be provided by the doctor; that is the least that will be required. If you don't do that, then your "human person" has not been given equal protection of the law.

hedrick · Jun 20, 2025

BCP1928 said:
If you declare a fertilized ovum a human person then a "birth" must be legally registered every time one is produced. Should it fail to attach itself to the wall of the uterus and die, a coroner's inquest must be held. Usually, if the death occurs under medical supervision a death certificate must be provided by the doctor; that is the least that will be required. If you don't do that, then your "human person" has not been given equal protection of the law.

I'm aware. So far prosecutors haven't gone that far, but I'm not convinced that will necessarily continue. There was recently an anncouncemtn from a prosecutor in WVa that implied they would follow something like that, though the state prosecutors' association had disclaimed it.

BCP1928 · Jun 20, 2025

hedrick said:
I'm aware. So far prosecutors haven't gone that far, but I'm not convinced that will necessarily continue. There was recently an anncouncemtn from a prosecutor in WVa that implied they would follow something like that, though the state prosecutors' association had disclaimed it.

There's no habeus corpus in most cases. An egg may be fertilized and lost without the woman--much less the police--even knowing. A pregnancy may fail at a later stage without the woman even knowing that she was pregnant, being aware only of particularly heavy menses.. But if a Coroner knew about a failed pregnancy and did not hold a hearing he could be prosecuted. He will, of course, have to hold a hearing for every miscarriage that is reported, and it would be a crime not to report a miscarriage or suspected miscarriage to the police.

hedrick · Jun 20, 2025

BCP1928 said:
There's no habeus corpus in most cases. An egg may be fertilized and lost without the woman--much less the police--even knowing. A pregnancy may fail at a later stage without the woman even knowing that she was pregnant, being aware only of particularly heavy menses.. But if a Coroner knew about a failed pregnancy and did not hold a hearing he could be prosecuted. He will, of course, have to hold a hearing for every miscarriage that is reported, and it would be a crime not to report a miscarriage or suspected miscarriage to the police.

that would logically follow. But I don't think anyone actually believes a fetus is the same as a human being. Here's a statement by W Va prosecutors responding to one prosecutor who made statements like yours: https://www.wboy.com/news/west-virg...aight-on-criminal-penalties-for-miscarriages/

Ohio lawmakers to introduce bill banning abortion, criminalizing the procedure; would overturn constitutional amendment approved by Ohio voters

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