'Don't fall for it': Internet skeptical as Arizona House votes to repeal 1864 near-total abortion ban

PHOENIX, ARIZONA: Arizona state House lawmakers voted to revoke the near-total abortion ban from the 1864 law the state Supreme Court allowed to enforce, CNN reported.

On Wednesday, April 24, Arizona's Republican-controlled House of Representatives succeeded in their third attempt to repeal the Civil War-era law, paving the way for the 15-week restriction on abortion.

All 29 Democratic legislators, with three Republicans, supported the bill, which will now move to the Senate. The upper chamber is expected to pass the legislation in early May, and Democratic Gov Katie Hobbs would likely sign it if it passes the Senate floor. Republicans have a narrow majority in the Senate, which last week voted on a motion favoring a bill to repeal the ban.

Athena Salman, the executive director of Arizona campaigns for Reproductive Freedom for All, formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America, welcomed the House legislators' move, stating, "This has been a long time coming."

Arizona's Supreme Court on April 9 allowed enforcing the 19th-century law that restricted abortion even in cases of rape and incest. The only exception was a threat to the mother's life.

Republican legislators angered by the bill

Despite three GOP lawmakers aligning with Democrats to pass the bill, the majority of the Republicans expressed their anger toward it. 

"I am disgusted today. Life is one of the tenants of our Republican platform. To see people go back on that value is egregious to me," said state Rep Rachel Jones. Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, an anti-abortionist, criticized the lawmaker's refusal to overturn the SC ban, arguing they rushed into it.

House leadership removed state Rep Matt Gress, who sided with Democrats, from the chambers Appropriations Committee as a punishment for supporting the abortion ban reversal.

Speaking to CNN's Abby Philip after the bill's passage, Gov Hobbs said she was "relieved."

"There have been untold levels of chaos and fear across the state since this Supreme Court decision. So now the Senate needs to vote to send this repeal to my desk, so we can get rid of this 1864 ban once and for all," she said.

Following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the 160-year-old abortion ban, former President Donald Trump urged the House legislature for immediate action to remedy the prohibition.

The abortion ban could become effective if the bill fails in the Senate, and if it succeeds, Arizona will continue with the 15-week restriction on the procedure.

Internet reacts

Netizens responded with skepticism to the House passing the bill to repeal the abortion ban. Some accused the Republicans supported it because of the upcoming election.

One user said, "Don't fall for it." Another argued, "Just until the election is over though. They'll be right back at it after the con voters."

"Shows that Republicans have no conviction in what they do, they sway any way they can in order to get elected or gain power. Once they get elected then they revert back to their horrible selves," one user added. Meanwhile, a response read, "Guess Donny told them they better do this because it is killing them. Do not fall for it AZ."

Another remarked, "This is all about staying in power. Not one ounce of these characters care about a woman’s right."

"A few Republicans' fear of losing their political power overwhelmed their apathy for saving women's lives," someone else claimed.

An individual wrote, "Don’t be fooled. They’re just afraid of what’ll happen in November. They still need to be held accountable because given an opportunity they’ll do it again."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.