Arizona: 1864 Abortion Law Repeal Clears State Senate Vote

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Facts

• On Wednesday, the Arizona Senate voted to repeal the state's 1864 abortion law. Previously, the House last week approved the repeal of the law, which bans abortion from the moment of conception except to save the life of the mother.¹
• Two Republicans joined all 14 Senate Democrats in voting for the repeal, which Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is expected to sign into law. However, without court action, it would take 90 days after the end of the legislative session to take effect.²
• Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has said that the 1864 law will still go into effect on June 27. There's no fixed date to end the legislative session in Arizona, which will likely happen between June and August.³
• The 1864 law, which was triggered by the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, was upheld by Arizona's Supreme Court in April. Arizona will revert to a 2022 law that restricts abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy once the 1864 law is repealed.⁴
• A ballot initiative that would enshrine abortion access in the state constitution and extend protections to 24 weeks of pregnancy will be on the ballot in Arizona in November.⁵

Sources: ¹BBC News, ²Associated Press, ³Newsweek, ⁴Washington Post and ⁵Arizona Mirror.

Narratives

• Left narrative, as provided by MSNBC. This is a huge victory for the people of Arizona, who are broadly opposed to such a draconian measure. The overturning of Roe v. Wade revived a Civil War-era law that became part of the right's anti-woman crusade, but these efforts are backfiring. Even pro-life voters are voicing their displeasure with such inhumane measures.
• Right narrative, as provided by LifeSite. It's disturbing that two Republicans abandoned their party to concede to the left and oppose a pro-life bill. Arizona has some of the strongest protections in the country for the unborn and the backing of the courts. It's sad there was more moral clarity in 1864 than in 2024 on this issue.

Predictions