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‘No exceptions’: Oklahoma lawmaker proposes bill classifying abortion as felony homicide Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT MAGGIE: SENATOR JOSEPH SILK, THE AUTHOR OF SENATE BILL 13. HE WANTS TO MAKE ALL ABORTIONS A CRIME IN OKLAHOMA, EVEN GOING AS FAR AS CLASSIFYING THEM AS FELONY HOMICIDE. HE IS CALLING ON THE STATE TO IGNORE FEDERAL RULINGS ON ABORTION. JOINING US NOW IN STUDIO, SENATOR SILK. WHEN DID THIS BECOME SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT? >> THE YEAR AFTER I GOT ELECTED. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT PRO-LIFE ISSUES BUT THE TYPICAL BILLS HAVE NOT GONE ANYWHERE. THAT IS WHERE WE WENT TO THE ABOLITION STYLE BILL. I HAVE DONE IT EVERY YEAR FOR THREE YEARS. MAGGIE: IT HAS NOT GOTTEN OUT OF COMMITTEE. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK 2019 WILL BE DIFFERENT? >> IT TAKES A LOT OF EDUCATION, I’VE TALKED TO SENATORS AND THEY ARE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION WHICH REGULATES ABORTION AND DOESN’T DO ANYTHING TO CURTAIL IT. ANY KIND OF BIG MOVEMENT OR SHIP LIKE THAT TAKES A WHILE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE. MAGGIE: WHAT IS THE EXACT LANGUAGE IN THE BILL, CLASSIFYING AND ABORTION AS FELONY HOMICIDE? >> THAT’S CORRECT. LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION. THE BILL OFFERS HUMAN LIFE PROTECTION THROUGH ALL PHASES. AT THE MOMENT OF FERTILIZATION COME IT OFFERS THE SAME PRODUCTION AS A ONE-YEAR-OLD CHILD. MAGGIE: WHAT HAPPENS TO A WOMAN WHO HAS AN ABORTION IN OKLAHOMA IF THE BILL WERE TO PASS AND BECOME LAW? >> IF THE BILL PASSED AND ABORTION WAS AN ACTUAL FELONY, IT WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT ACT SHE PLAYED IN IT, JUST LIKE A MURDER OF A ONE-YEAR-OLD, ONE-MONTH-OLD BABY. MAGGIE: ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE? INSIST, RAPE -- >> THERE ARE VERY UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE A SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT TAKE PLACE, BUT A LIFE IS A LIFE. YOU HAVE TO DECIDE, ARE WE GOING TO PROTECT ALL HUMAN LIFE OR NOT? MAGGIE: WE HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, HOW YOU WOULD FEEL IN THIS HAPPEN TO YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THAT THEY WOULD FACE PRISON TIME. HOW DO YOU RELATE THAT BACK TO YOUR OWN LOVED ONES IN YOUR FAMILY? >> I HAVE FULL SUPPORT. I HAVE FIVE DAUGHTERS, MY WIFE, THEY ARE ALL FULLY SUPPORTED. WE ALL SEE IT THE SAME WAY. AS FAR AS PROTECTING INNOCENT HUMAN LIFE REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. MAGGIE: DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE RELATED TO THIS ISSUE THAT SOMEHOW MADE USE OF PASSIONATE? >> NO, I DON’T. ME AND MY WIFE HAVE SEVEN KIDS, NUMBER EIGHT IS ON THE WAY. WE HAVE BEEN AROUND THE PREGNANCY ISSUE QUITE A BIT, TALK TO DOCTORS. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A HEART FOR IT, BUT NOTHING SPECIFICALLY MAGGIE:. WE TALKED TO THE ACLU. THIS IS WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. >> THE SENATOR HAS SHOWN HE IS NOT INTERESTED IN UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION, DESPITE THAT HE IS TAKEN NOTE TO DO SO. WOMEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE THEIR OWN PERSONAL DECISION ABOUT THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE. THIS IS AN AFFRONT TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE AUTONOMY OVER YOUR OWN BODY. MAGGIE: WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT? >> WHAT THEY REFER TO THIS BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL IS ROE V. WADE. WHAT IS SAD ABOUT THE ACLU IS THE SUPREME COURT WANTS -- ONCE RULED THAT SLAVERY WAS LEGAL. IF WE TOOK THEIR METHOD OF THINKING AND THEIR STATEMENTS, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CHALLENGED THE SUPREME COURT RULINGS ON SLAVERY. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO GET OVER, THAT THE SUPREME COURT SOMETIMES THESE TO BE CHALLENGED, THEY HAVE THE HORRIBLE DECISIONS IN THE PAST, AND THE STATES NEED TO CHALLENGE THOSE DECISIONS WHEN THEY ARE IMMORAL DECISIONS. MAGGIE: SPEAKING ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THIS, VIEWERS SAY THIS FEELS OUT PROMOTING ON YOUR PART BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY THIS WOULD EVER PASS IN OKLAHOMA. SO WHAT IS YOUR INTENT IF THERE IS NO WAY THIS WILL EVER PASS? >> I THINK THERE IS A WAY IT COULD PASS. LIKE I SAID AT THE BEGINNING, THERE IS MOMENTUM GROWING FOR IT. I LIKE TO GO BACK TO SLAVERY BECAUSE THE LEGAL ROUTE OF HOW THIS IS GOING IS SIMILAR. THE ABOLITIONISTS BACK IN THE DAY, PEOPLE WOULD SAY THERE IS NO WAY YOU WERE EVER GOING TO ABOLISH SLAVERY. PEOPLE SAY THERE IS NO WAY YOU ARE EVER GOING TO GET RID OF ABORTION. WHEN