Missouri Lawmaker Wants to Make it Illegal for Residents to Obtain Abortions Out of State

A Missouri lawmaker is taking action against women who travel outside the state to obtain an abortion.

Missouri now only has one clinic located in St. Louis that performs surgical abortions as a result of the eight-week limit on abortions. Many residents have now begun traveling to Kansas or Illinois if they wish to terminate a pregnancy after this mark to avoid any hassle.

In response to this, Republican Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold has proposed a new bill that would make it illegal for other states to perform an abortion on Missouri residents. While government officials would have no authority over the matter, the move would allow private citizens to sue. She believes that the measure will hold neighboring states accountable for failing to protect unborn children.

A press officer for Planned Parenthood, Olivia Cappello, slammed Coleman’s proposal, calling the move “bonkers.”

For the time being, Missouri cannot enforce the rigid abortion ban as it continues to be challenged in the court system. Judges are set to review an injunction against the law later this month.

Coleman presented the bill as an amendment to an abortion-related House bill, though it has yet to be debated on the floor.