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Total abortion ban bill might make its way to Indiana statehouse

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – As an Indiana republican lawmaker eyes an abortion ban bill, democrat leaders are preparing to fight against it.

On Tuesday, State Representative Curt Nisly posted his plan to social media. In the article, it said his intentions are to introduce a bill that would ban abortion and charge doctors and women with a crime if an abortion is performed.

His media person told 24-Hour News 8 a phone interview would be possible Wednesday, but the representative wouldn’t make himself available later in the day.

“If the mother is going to get hurt because the pregnancy, then I think abortion is okay, but other than that, not really,” Indianapolis resident Daris Martin said.

“That’s a very divided topic,” Fairland resident Ryan Weber said. “I don’t agree with it, but I know where people stand with that, and that’s a hot issue with them.”

“He’s telling people that may have had a tough family situation, a health problem, maybe concerned with the health of the fetus, that they have no choice,” State Rep. Ed Delaney said. “That [State Rep.] Nisly and the legislature have decided that they’re criminals if they decide to have an abortion.”

Democratic State Rep. DeLaney knows he wouldn’t have the party votes to stop the proposal. But if it makes its way to the statehouse, he’ll do what he can do stop it.

“There’s plenty of challenges to Roe v Wade,” State Rep. DeLaney said. “We don’t need to phony up a bill here making people criminals in order to have a challenge.”

A challenge is what some people think is coming.  President-elect Donald Trump is eyeing abortion.

He wants to appoint Supreme Court justices who would strike federal abortion protections down. This would make abortion a state decision.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky responded in part by saying “Our commitment will only increase as we step up the fight to guarantee access to all.”

“Family planning is not a social issue, it is an economic issue that has a financial impact on the state of Indiana and the nation,” said Betty Cockrum, President and CEO of PPINK. “Lawmakers who continue to bury their heads in the sand on these reproductive issues are hurting those that they pledged to serve.”

With lawmakers set to return soon, there are mixed feelings as to whether some want abortion to take center stage. “I think a lot of the more conservative states will, but I think a lot of states will try to stand back against it,” Martin said.

“I think there may be more attempts, but I don’t think they’ll pass,” Weber said.

Next week, lawmakers will begin to organize and layout their plans for the upcoming year.