“We’re prepared to fight for our patients’ right to basic health in court and to continue doing everything in our power to ensure abortion access is permanently secured in Kentucky,” said Gibron, according to the Associated Press.
Pro-life advocates in the state voiced disappointment with the decision.
“From the beginning, we have acknowledged that House Bill 3 would not end abortion in Kentucky,” said Addia Wuchner, executive director of Kentucky Right to Life. “H.B. 3 is a multifaceted bill that reflects our continued commitment to Kentucky’s most vulnerable citizens, the unborn, as well as advocating for justice and safe medical practices for their mothers.”
At the time of the veto override, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, praised the legislation.
“Like most Americans, Kentuckians want commonsense safeguards for unborn babies and their mothers and reject abortion on demand,” she said.
The Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of the Susan B. Anthony List, estimated that in 2020 there were 344 abortions performed in Kentucky at 15 weeks or later into pregnancy. That year, the number of medical abortions in Kentucky rose 13% to make up 51% of the 4,104 abortions.
The Susan B. Anthony List cites a November 2021 study in the journal Health Services and Managerial Epidemiology which said emergency room visits related to the use of chemical abortion drugs increased by over 500% from 2002 to 2015.
Among the states with legal safeguards against mail-order abortions are Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas
This November, Kentucky voters will consider the proposed Constitutional Amendment 2, which would say that the state constitution does not provide a right to abortion and does not guarantee public funding of abortion. The Kentucky Catholic Conference has backed the amendment.
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