NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Constitutionally questionable. That's what democratic lawmakers are calling a series of abortion bills that have been filed in the legislature.
One of these bills would make abortion illegal and the other has to do with the heartbeat of the unborn.
Yesterday, Republicans announced a bill that would make abortion illegal in the state of Tennessee if the supreme court overturns the Roe V. Wade ruling. If this bill passes it would put Tennessee in a position to ban abortions as soon as a decision might be made.
Democratic lawmakers say that's a real possibility with increasingly conservative Supreme Court judges in position but they also say a total abortion ban does not reflect the values of Tennesseans.
"Abortion is an issue that is divisive and people have extremely strong beliefs, but the criminalization of that procedure is extreme and out of step with Tennesseans. I think if this were being done, not just in the hypothetical and when people see that this could have a real effect of criminalizing abortion in the state. I think that goes the wrong way. I think that doesn't lead to fewer abortions. I think that leads to fewer safe abortions."
That bill is called the Life Protection Act and soon it will be heard in the Public Health Subcommittee.
