‘Utterly disgusting’: Internet slams lawmakers as Arizona Supreme Court upholds long-dormant 1864 law banning nearly all abortions

ARIZONA, UNITED STATES: On Tuesday, April 9, the Arizona Supreme Court decided to allow the enforcement of a 19th-century abortion ban, which dates back around 160 years. This ruling paves the path for the implementation of a near-total ban on abortions in the state, per NY Times. 

The 1864 ban includes exceptions to safeguard the life of the mother; however, it does not provide any exemptions in cases of rape or incest.

What does the 1864 abortion law say? 

The Arizona ruling stated in the conclusion that "the abortion issue implicates morality and public policy concerns, and invariably inspires spirited debate and engenders passionate disagreements among citizens."

This newly enforced ban, replacing the 15-week prohibition, was enacted in 2022. The law imposes restrictions on medication abortion, mandates an ultrasound before the procedure, and necessitates parental consent for minors seeking abortions.

Additionally, it includes exceptions for medical circumstances.

On Tuesday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, released a statement denouncing the ruling as "unconscionable and an affront to freedom." Mayes affirmed, "As long as I am Attorney General, no woman or doctor will be prosecuted under this draconian law in this state."

The law says that "a person who provides, supplies or administers to a pregnant woman, or procures such woman to take any medicine, drugs or substance, or uses or employs any instrument or other means whatever, with intent thereby to procure the miscarriage of such woman, unless it is necessary to save her life, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than two years nor more than five years."

Efforts are currently in progress to embed abortion rights into the Arizona state constitution. Arizona for Abortion Access revealed last week that they had gathered sufficient signatures to place their proposed amendment on the ballot.

While Trump has refrained from embracing a nationwide abortion ban and cautioned that the matter could result in Republican defeats, President Joe Biden and his allies are highlighting attempts to restore abortion rights.

Arizona will now have the strongest abortion laws among the major battleground states as a result of the ruling.

Governor of Arizona, Katie Hobbs expressed her disapproval, saying, "It is a dark day in Arizona. We are just fourteen days away from one of the most extreme abortion bans in the country. But my message to Arizona women is this: I won't rest, and I won't stop fighting until we have secured the right to abortion."

While Trump has refrained from embracing a nationwide abortion ban and cautioned that the matter could result in Republican defeats, President Joe Biden and his allies are highlighting attempts to restore abortion rights.

Arizona will now have the strongest abortion laws among the major battleground states as a result of the ruling.

The Arizona ruling underscores the increasing politicization of abortion rights following the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v Wade, effectively leaving the issue to individual states.

This decision comes on the heels of the Florida Supreme Court's ruling allowing a six-week abortion restriction to be implemented.

Internet slams lawmakers amid Abortion law revival

Numerous social media users criticized the government for the enforcement of the 1864 law.

An Instagram user expressed sympathy, stating, "Dear American women... I am so sorry." Another user questioned the constitutionality of the law, commenting, "The law is unconstitutional. Why are they so obsessed with women's bodies."

A user said, "A time before women were allowed to vote too." Another user said, "I'm so sick of this country." 

The next user said, "This is utterly disgusting."

A user said, "Yall better wake up and realize what's going on before it's too late. Everyone walks around with some false sense of security of 'how far we've come' and how 'progressive' society is. Everyone needs to vote in November to save ourselves." 

A user said  "How does 1864 even apply to 2024? What's wrong with this country."

A user said, "Why on EARTH would you look at a law from Slavery era and say, 'They had some pretty good ideas back then??'"

The next user said, "Dear American women... I am so sorry."

A user said, "The law is unconstitutional. Why are they so obsessed with women's bodies."

While a user wrote, "It's shameful."

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.