Tennessee two years after 'near' abortion ban
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — This past Sunday marked two years since Tennessee banned abortions, except to prevent serous injury or death in the mother. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, states now decide their own abortion laws. Tennessee moved quickly after the ruling. About two months later, state lawmakers passed some of the toughest abortion restrictions in the nation.
"Last year alone, over 10,000 women left state to receive maternal healthcare," said Emily Cupples, director of the Tennessee Freedom Circle, a pro-choice organization. The nonprofit's website said it's "dedicated to advancing reproductive freedom through a comprehensive approach that includes legal expertise, legislative advocacy, and public education." The Tennessee Freedom Circle released an advocacy video this weekend, aiming to share the impact of the decision, now 24 months later.
"Abortions are no longer legal in the state of Tennessee for the first time in 50 years," stated the video's opening narration.
Cupples said it's the first in a series of videos the organization plans to release this election cycle to educate voters on our state's current abortion laws, and their effect on Tennesseans.
Since Tennessee passed what's known as a trigger law or ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Cupples said abortion clinics across the state closed. Now, doctors are leaving as well, according to Cupples.
"We've seen a decline, a 5% decline in med school applications in the state of Tennessee because the laws are so restrictive," said Cupples. "People don't want to come here to be trained and practice because they're worried about legal and financial consequences."
But republicans have often remained in support of states controlling the abortion issue.
"I don't think there's a real shot at a national ban or a national approval of abortion," said conservative radio host Steve Gil.
"We now have abortion going onto the ballot in a number of states. We're going to see it increasingly where people will decide in their state, what they think the abortion restrictions should be. Should it be soon after someone gets pregnant? Should it be a moment before or a moment after birth?"
A 2022 Vanderbilt University poll showed 80% of Tennesseans supported abortion under some circumstances. The most widely accepted are rape, incest, fatal fetal issues or preventing serious injury or death to the mother.
Republican vice presidential candidaite JD Vance said former president Donald Trump would not support a federal ban on abortion, and would veto it, if elected. Trump has said states should make the decision.
