Oklahoma state representatives take the formal position that the U.S. Supreme Court overstepped its authority making any abortion-related rulings, including the landmark Roe v. Wade.
Rep. Chuck Strohm said the U.S. Constitution leaves criminal code authority to the states, and Oklahoma has outlawed abortions for reasons other than saving the mother’s life.
"Does the Supreme Court have the right to violate every act of decency and law by imposing — no, not by imposing, but by forcing the murder of unborn children on our society?" Strohm said. "And I will uphold this truth: that the answer is no."
Strohm said the Tenth Amendment gives states the right to create and enforce their own abortion laws.
"Oklahoma triumphs because the Constitution says that's the law," Strohm said.
House Resolution 1004 calls on the state’s public officials, from the attorney general to sheriffs, to act as appropriate to stop abortion. It also says the state’s judges — specifically those on the Oklahoma Supreme Court — are not to interfere with abortion laws passed by the legislature.
Strohm believes the concepts of due process and equal protection extend to fetuses.
"This means that no one — not a doctor, father, judge or mother — has rights that allow them to murder an unborn child, born or unborn," Strohm said.
The resolution was the first item on Monday’s House floor agenda and was adopted by voice vote.
