'He is fascist': Outrage as Tennessee Gov Bill Lee signs 'abortion trafficking of a minor' bill into law

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: Tennessee Gov Bill Lee, a Republican, signed the "abortion trafficking of a minor" bill into law that criminalizes adults who help a minor to get an abortion without the consent of parents within the state, reported HuffPost.

Under the bill HB 1895, which was legalized on Tuesday, May 28, aiding an underage pregnant one for an abortion would be a Class A misdemeanor offense that could lead to 11 months and 29 days in prison.

The law that would come into effect on July 1 would apply to pregnant minors even if they "consented to the actions that led to the offense," as per CNN.

Tennessee is the latest GOP-controlled state to severely restrict abortion access following the upending of Roe v Wade in 2022.

Tennessee follows the footsteps of Idaho

The Volunteer State's new abortion law mirrored a similar one passed in Idaho last year that prohibited minor pregnant girls from traveling out of state to obtain an abortion without their parent's approval.

According to the new law's summary, it "provides that an adult commits the offense of abortion trafficking of a minor if the adult recruits, harbors, or transports a pregnant unemancipated minor within this state."

The "abortion trafficking of a minor" law added to the existing restrictions to abortion access in the state. Tennessee does not allow abortion at any stage and offers no exception to rape or incest.

Bryan Davidson, policy director at the ACLU of Tennessee, in a letter to Gov Lee last month, vehemently opposed the bill, which was "designed to deprive [pregnant minors] of their own bodily autonomy."

Arguing the bill harmed the pregnant minor's "ability to access the support of those they trust when they need it most and is an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment right to free speech and expression," he added the travel ban would "only exacerbate the ongoing maternal health crisis in Tennessee."

Similarly, Briana Perry, the interim executive director of the nonprofit women's advocacy group Healthy and Free Tennessee, criticized the law. She argued criminalizing and punishing someone for abortion would make more people reluctant to seek help from their support systems.

Internet voices outrage at Tennessee's new abortion law

Netizens lashed out at the new abortion law that criminalized adults helping minors to get abortions within the state without parental consent.

One user stated, "This is absolutely horrific. I hope you can fight this cruel and misogynistic law. My god, the ramifications are abhorrent."

Another argued, "Good Lord. It never ends in Tennessee and other red states. This will allow a rapist to demand his victim carry her child to term. The bill gives the biological father more rights than the mother. This is disgusting."

"Bill Lee is a fascist MAGA misogynist, who has no business making decisions regarding the bodies and lives of young women. He is turning them into chattel," fumed a third user.

A fourth response read, "Even if the fetus is the product of the "father" raping the woman. And isn't Tennessee the state that wants to give convicted rapists parental rights? So progressive."

Another outraged person wrote, "This law has NOTHING to do with love for life. It’s motivated by hatred of women and girls."

Someone else claimed, "It's not about saving babies. Never was. It's about controlling women. It's always been about this."

An individual said, "These people are just repulsive and disgusting, ruining young girls lifes! They must all be voted out! Roe must be signed into a law!"

"Forcing a minor to carry a fetus to term should be criminal," another user added.

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.