Texas hasn’t at all times paid a ton of consideration in relation to maintaining highways and roads, as evidenced via the D+ we took house for that topic at the state’s 2021 infrastructure record card. But once you upload the phrase “abortion” into the combination, officers right here sharpen their focal point quicker’n’ you’ll say “dystopian hellscape.”
Republicans have already banned just about all abortions within the state, but it surely’s one lifeless horse that they only refuse to prevent beating. Now, some native Lone Star governments are tightening the reins in relation to interstate trip for Texans with undesirable pregnancies.
On Monday, Lubbock County commissioners handed an offer that bars what some activists have dubbed “abortion trafficking” — the delivery of any person to a state the place they may be able to obtain prison care. Amarillo City Council might be mulling a an identical measure on Tuesday, in line with Reuters.
Charlie Hughes, consumption director for the Texas Equal Access Fund, instructed the Observer that such road-to-abortion-bans are inflicting confusion.
“It’s just another added barrier that people have to go through. It’s ridiculous,” she mentioned, later including: “People have a right to travel — like, for any reason.”
Social media customers spoke back in horror to the news of Lubbock County’s transfer, which echoed an ordinance handed remaining month in Cochran County, alongside the Texas-New Mexico border.
Ah, sure, any other shining instance of small executive, freedom, and so forth. taking place in Texas.
At this price, it is only going to be simple for white men to trip round, thru, and out of the state. #ROEvember https://t.co/Cfzqxv0l8z
— Jennifer Harris (@jwharris) October 23, 2023
Texas has forged itself as a bastion of “personal liberties,” comparable to wearing a gun with no license. Freedoms now not lined in that class come with, however are by no means restricted to, the fitting to obtain an abortion.
“Ah, yes, another shining example of small government, freedom, etc. happening in Texas,” one consumer on X (previously Twitter) wrote based on a reporter’s post concerning the Lubbock County news. “At this rate, it’s only going to be easy for white males to travel around, through, and out of the state.”
Since abortion used to be banned right here, some Texans have sought it out in different states the place it’s nonetheless prison. New Mexico is among the most well liked locations as a result of its relative proximity.
“It’s just another added barrier that people have to go through. It’s ridiculous.” – Charlie Hughes, TEA Fund
tweet this
But the Lone Star State and the Land of Enchantment haven’t been the most efficient of pals in fresh days due to Gov. Greg Abbott’s push to put in a razor-wire barrier alongside our shared border. And now, sure municipal leaders want to cut off access to the highways that attach our liberty-lovin’ land to our westerly neighbor.
“Between this BS and Abbott putting razor wire on the goddamn NEW MEXICO border, I keep wondering, ‘When the feds will step in to protect interstate travel?’” one X consumer wrote re Lubbock County.
Between this BS and Abbott placing razor cord at the goddamn NEW MEXICO border, I stay questioning, “When the feds will step in to protect interstate travel?”
Then I take into account who the present President and US Attorney General are and notice, “Oh, that’s not happening.” https://t.co/X9Pu5zALKp
— Grits for Breakfast (@Grits4Breakfast) October 23, 2023
Reuters reported on Monday that 5 different Texas jurisdictions in the past handed prohibitions on abortion-related delivery since June 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade resolution, and with it, the constitutional proper to an abortion.
A 2021 Texas regulation touched off a cascade of an identical bans around the U.S., wherein non-public electorate can sue any person suspected of “aiding and abetting” an abortion. The present so-called anti-trafficking ordinances use that legal mechanism, even supposing no such breaches haven’t begun been reported, in line with Reuters.
Big questions get up surrounding the feasibility of stopping pregnant Texans from hitting the street to get an out-of-state abortion. Instead of “stop and frisk,” are police going to direct automobiles with fertile-looking passengers to tug over for a “pee to flee”?
“Traveling while pregnant is now a crime in @LubbockCounty. This is next-level fear mongering & intimidation,” one X consumer mentioned of the commissioners’ resolution. “Will county deputies will stop cars w/women in them to do a bump check?”
Traveling whilst pregnant is now against the law in @LubbockCounty. This is next-level worry mongering & intimidation. Will county deputies will forestall automobiles w/girls in them to do a bump take a look at? #LubbockLunacy #txlegehttps://t.co/QpVtLPb6vj https://t.co/rEo8N8NrBV
— milfordmom (@milfordmom15) October 23, 2023
The mayor of Llano, which has additionally regarded as adopting a highway-to-abortion ban, admitted to The Washington Post that this type of measure would necessarily function added fluff.
“Is it absolutely necessary? No,” the mayor, an ordinance supporter, reportedly mentioned. “Does it make a statement? Yes, it does.”
Yep, it’s essential indisputably say that.
All else apart, this a lot is obvious: Anti-abortion advocates are getting ingenious of their challenge of gatekeeping the womb. But abortion rights supporters look forward to that passing trip bans may just come again to hang-out the self-proclaimed pro-life crowd come 2024.
One outstanding abortion rights proponent put it this fashion when chatting with Reuters: “We’re going to be sure that there are political and electoral penalties for this.”
[/gpt3]